On Saturday, April 16 the New Hampshire chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) holds their yearly conference at the Grappone Center in Concord. This conference is for people living with mental illness and for the families and other people who love and support them. People come from all over the state to be part of a day of hope, to connect with others in similar life situations, and to learn.
The conference will offer something for adults of all ages. NAMI NH has designed the conference so that participants will
• Be more aware of resources
• Feel hopeful
• Be part of a community of mental health – You are not alone!
• Help stop stigma - stigma is thinking bad things about mental illness that are not true
• Have a great learning experience
This year the conference is called Hope Talk 2016. The conference opening speaker, Jon Wortmann, will talk about self-care. He will describe ways to get back from deep hurt and to learn new ways to feel better. His useful ideas will re-energize us to return to helping ourselves and others who need us. Jon is an executive and mental coach, minister and speaker, and the author of Mindfulness Is Sublime. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, his keynotes and workshops transform the brain health, strategic communication, and team-building skills of participants.
At this conference you can attend a choice of four workshops in the morning and four in the afternoon. The conference will have resource tables from organizations from around the state, NAMI NH volunteer recognition, and the NAMI NH Annual Awards.
All meals are included in the conference registration fee. NAMI NH offers scholarships to make sure that people who truly need this conference can come. If you can’t afford the registration fee, call Liz Hodgkins to see if you can get a scholarship.
This conference is a yearly event for learning, but one of the greatest benefits is spending the day with other families who share experiences. Take the time to come together with those who understand you. Our community of families and individuals welcome you with kindness and understanding. This is a day to restore hope and meet people who can support you.
If you want to know more about the conference, please call Liz Hodgkins at 603-225-5359 ext. 322 or email [email protected]. You can also visit our website at http://www.naminh.org/we-educate/community-education/annual-conference
Liz Hodgkins is the Education and Support Program Coordinator at NAMI NH, and organizes the NAMI NH annual conference. She is part of the kind and respectful team at NAMI NH that provides support, education, and advocacy for those with mental illness and their families.