Inspiring Hope mental health conference slated Oct. 5

Mental health advocates and supporters will gather this fall at the state’s largest mental health event, the Inspiring Hope conference from NAMI Delaware, set for Thursday, Oct. 5, in Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware in Newark.

Attendees are welcome to learn about the newest research into mental health and mental illness, make connections with other people and organizations, discover resources in the community and strengthen their advocacy skills, said Dr. Joshua Thomas, CEO of NAMI Delaware.

“We bring together the mental health community to strengthen the bonds that unite us and fight the stigma that reduces us,” said Thomas. “Inspiring Hope is always an inspiring event, and we welcome everyone to be part of the experience.”

Keynote speakers Michael Jann and Michele Jourdan, producers of “Our Turn to Talk” will share their stories and experiences about living with mental illness and supporting loved ones who live with mental health conditions.

Michael Jann is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer for “The Tonight Show,” and wife Michele Jourdan is his writing partner and a gold medal-winning bodybuilder. Their son, Max, is in recovery, and his experience spurred their fight against the stigma of mental illness. They are the creators of “Bug Therapy,” an animated short film with an all-star cast that uses humor to address the topic.

The film and podcast series “Our Turn to Talk” let teenagers and young people tell their stories, unfiltered, with the message that storytelling saves lives. They recount the impacts of racism, social media, anxiety and depression to showcase their struggles and triumphs.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels, from the exclusive presenting sponsor to a standard sponsorship. To arrange a sponsorship, contact Dr. Doug Ferguson at dferguson@namide.org.

For more information, go to namidelaware.org/conference.