10th Annual Mental Health Advocacy Day
Hope Starts Here – Prioritize, Invest, and Connect for Mental Wellness
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
In Person at the Statehouse and Vermont Supreme Courthouse Auditorium at 111 State Street, Montpelier
Join us for the 10th Annual Mental Health Advocacy Day on January 29th from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Statehouse and the Vermont Supreme Courthouse Auditorium. Hundreds of mental health advocates and over 50 co-sponsoring organizations and their network will be calling on Vermont leaders and legislators to support the mental health of Vermonters. Our key theme is “Hope Starts Here – Prioritize, Invest, and Connect for Mental Wellness”.
You can join the morning program either virtually or in-person at the Vermont Supreme Courthouse Auditorium from 9 am-12 pm. The agenda includes a welcome address from state leaders, a legislative panel discussion, advocacy awards, and advocates sharing their lived experience stories of recovery and hope. ASL Interpreters will be available.
In the afternoon, events will continue at the Statehouse where attendees will meet with legislators, provide testimony to committees, and be recognized by the House of Representatives with a Resolution. Mental Health Advocates will be at the Statehouse Card Room on January 29th, allowing for an opportunity to meet and greet legislators! Please contact Laurie Emerson if you would like to be a co-sponsor of the event at [email protected].
Directions to the Vermont Supreme Courthouse Auditorium (Room #110): Access Building through 109 State Street Lobby — Entrance off Governor Davis Avenue. Please bring a photo ID with you to enter the building.
Agenda
- 8:00-9:00 am — Bagels with Legislators (Statehouse Cafeteria)
- 9:00-9:15 am — Welcome and Introductions (VSC Auditorium)
- 9:15-10:00 am — State Leader Welcome (VSC Auditorium)
- 10:00-10:40 am — Legislative Panel Discussion
- 10:40-11:00 am — Mental Health Advocacy Day Awards
- 11:00 am-12:00 pm — Sharing Stories – Live
- 12:00 pm — Lunch (on your own) – meet with legislators (Statehouse cafeteria)
- 1:00 pm — Press Conference (Cedar Creek Room at the Statehouse). Ice Cream social to follow (cafeteria)
- Afternoon — Resolution by House of Representatives (House Chamber)
- Throughout the day – Testimony at Key Legislative Committees
- Throughout the day – Card Room Exhibit Tables (near Cafeteria at Statehouse)
Vote for Award Recipients
We invite you to select the award recipients for the 10th Mental Health Advocacy Day. Kindly review each nomination form to understand the nominee’s contributions, accomplishments, and impact. You may cast one vote per category. Voting will open on January 10th and close on January 21st at 5 PM. The nominee with the highest number of votes will receive the award.
Submit Artwork
A picture is worth 1000 words! Attendees have the opportunity to share their story through art. Send an electronic copy of your art with its title (if you have one) by Jan. 22 to: [email protected] as a JPG, PRN, or PDF file. Include permission for us to use your name as the artist OR submit your art without using your name. We will run a slideshow of as people arrive for Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Vermont Supreme Courthouse Auditorium.
Share Your Story
We invite you to share your personal mental health story as part of Mental Health Advocacy Day. Whether you choose to speak in person, virtually, or through a pre-recorded video, your voice can help raise awareness and drive change. If you plan to share in person, please note that in-person stories will take place between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. We ask that each story be between 2 to 3 minutes long. For those who prefer to submit a pre-recorded video, we have provided video guidelines to assist you. To participate, please complete the registration form linked below.
Share Testimony to a Legislative Committee
If you’re interested in testifying to one of the legislative committees at Mental Health Advocacy Day, we encourage you to register in advance. This year’s theme is “Prioritize, Invest, and Connect for Mental Wellness.” We will make a request to Committee Chairs to schedule testimony on Jan. 29th or throughout the week. Testimony is at the discretion of the Committee Chairs.
2025 Mental Health Advocacy Day Co-Sponsors:
NAMI Vermont ~ Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) ~ Vermont Care Partners (Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services) ~ Another Way ~ Bellcate School ~ Building Bright Futures ~ Cathedral Square ~ Center for Health and Learning ~ Champlain Community Services ~ Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity ~ Clara Martin Center (CMC) ~ Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) ~ Families First Inc. ~ Green Mountain Mobile Therapy ~ Green Mountain Support Services ~ Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) ~ Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont ~ Howard Center ~ InclusivityWorks, Inc. ~ Lamoille County Mental Health Services (LCMHS) ~ Lincoln Street ~ Me2/Orchestra ~ Milton Family Community Center ~ National Association of Social Workers-VT ~ NFI Vermont, Inc. ~ Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) ~ Northwestern Counseling and Support Services (NCSS) ~ Recovery Partners of Vermont ~ Rutland County Pride ~ Rutland Mental Health Services ~ Sana at Stowe ~ Social Tinkering ~ Support and Services at Home (SASH) ~ Team Two Vermont ~ The Family Place Parent Child Center ~ The University of Vermont Health Network ~ United Counseling Service of Bennington County, Inc. (UCS) ~ United Way of Northwest Vermont ~ Upper Valley Services ~ Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) ~ Vermont Center for Independent Living ~ Vermont Collaborative for Practice Improvement and Innovation ~ Vermont Family Network ~ Vermont Medical Society ~ Vermont Mental Health Counselors Association ~ Vermont NEA ~ Vermont Principals Association ~ Vermont Psychological Association ~ Vermont Psychiatric Association ~ Vermont State University Graduate Programs in Counseling ~ Voices for Vermont Children ~ Voices of Hope ~ Washington County Mental Health Services, Inc. (WCMHS) ~ White River Junction VA Healthcare System
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