About this Series
Join us for NAMI Vermont’s Community Conversation series, held on weekday evenings, once or twice per month from March through August 2026. Each session features a different topic related to mental health, wellness, education, and community connections.
No matter your background or connection to the subject area, these sessions offer valuable insights and actionable information in an open, honest, and welcoming environment. NAMI Vermont is proud to bring this important programming to Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties! We are grateful to the University of Vermont Medical Center Community Health Investment Fund for providing the financial support to make this series possible.
We hope you can join us for our next Community Conversation!
How to Participate
Registration is recommended so we know how many people to expect! Once registered, you will receive an email with all the details for the conversations you have registered for, as well as a reminder ahead of each event. Learn more about the experts who are joining us for each Community Conversation below.
What to Expect
NAMI Vermont’s Community Conversation series offers a unique opportunity to learn about how different topics relate to mental health, find out how to access services and supports that serve our communities, and connect with members of our communities.
- Expert panelists
- Interactive Q&A
- Resources
- Community connections
Topics will vary between sessions – please check back often for updates and follow us on social media to stay informed!
Upcoming Series
Thursday, May 21 | Winooski High School
6:00 – 8:00 PM
The Power of Connection: Impacts of Relationships on Mental Health
60 Normand St, Winooski, VT 05404
Join us for a Community Conversation on the power of human connection. Jen Colman from Green Mountain Mobile Therapy, Sarah DeBouter from MENTOR Vermont, and Matt Wolf from Vermont Afterschool will share their professional and personal experiences and perspectives on how strong relationships – especially between youth and adults – contribute to individuals’ and communities’ mental health and wellbeing.
Tuesday, June 2 | Mental Health Urgent Care
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Suicide Prevention: Beyond 988 in Vermont
1 S Prospect St, Burlington, VT 05401
Join us for a Community Conversation on Suicide Prevention. This panel will feature local subject matter experts Dr. Craig Bryan, PsyD, M.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the University of Vermont Medical Center’s suicide care clinic; Kathleen Kilbourne, suicide loss survivor and former Executive Director of Vermont Suicide Prevention Center; and Mark Margolis, Vermont Psychologist, MA, and Howard Center’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Craig, Kathleen, and Mark will share their professional and personal perspectives on best practices and strategies to keep ourselves and others safe.
Tuesday, June 16 | South Burlington Public Library
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Ask the Expert: Get Your Mental Health Questions Answered
180 Market St, South Burlington, VT 05403
Join us for a Community Conversation to get your mental health questions answered! This panel will feature local subject-matter experts: Dr. Robert Althoff, MD, PhD, a nationally recognized expert in child and adolescent psychiatry, and Dr. Steven Shlozman, PhD, a child psychiatrist specializing in depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, medical education, and medical humanities. Rob and Steve will share their professional perspectives and answer your questions about mental health.
NAMI Vermont is proud to offer this series at no cost to participants! We always welcome donations, which allow us to continue to offer high-quality programming across the state. Please visit namivt.org/donate to make a contribution. Thank you for your generosity.
Register
Register for a Community Conversation below! For more information, contact NAMI Vermont at (802) 876-7949 or email [email protected].