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NAMI Conferences

2024
2024 Cultural Practices for Mental Health

In 2024, we had an in-person attendance of 176 NAMI community members at JCC in partnership with Mental Health America of Hawaii and Adventist Health.

NAMI National CEO Dan Gillison came to deliver our Keynote presentation on Culture & Diversity (click here for keynote slides).

We had a choice of 4 breakouts from our community partners:

  • Mental Wellness in the African-American Community (AKA Sorority)
  • I ola 'oe, i ola au e - Haku Keola Chan - slides 
  • Wellness Garden - Dr. Mestisa Gass (w/ 4-H and S.O.W.)
  • Culture in NAMI Support Groups - Anisa Wiseman
2023
2023 Hearts and Minds

NAMI Hawaii State Conference was held on March 28, 2023 at the Japanese CUltural Center with over 185 attendees.  We had a great time connecting with our community in person after three years of online conferences. We want to thank our partners, Mental Health America of Hawaii and our presenting sponsor, Amare Global.

2022
2022 Community of Hope

NAMI Hawaii’s 2022 conference focused on hope through sharing experiences and faith from various cultures/religion, and showcased NAMI Hawaii's role in CIT.

< watch the recording >

2021
2021 Community Resiliency for Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii’s state conference, Community Resiliency For Hawaii, was held virtually on March 22.

 

< click here for recordings and resources >

2020
2020 Together Toward Tomorrow

A virtual NAMI convention held nationally across 48 states. You can click here to learn more and view recordings of the presentations.

2019
2019 RADICAL SELF CARE

NAMI Hawaii State Conference 2019 With Mental Health Americal Of Hawaii & Sutter Health Kahi Mohala

Key Note Speaker: Dr. Paul Hutman, PhD Northern California VA Health Care Systems speaking on Brilliantly Battling Burnout>

Watch on Youtube HERE.

Breakouts:

  • Mediation Practices By Paul Hutman, PhD
  • Art and Mental Health Break Out By Mestisa Gass, PsyD, Program Director, Mental Health America of Hawaii
  • Live Your Life Well, Digitally By Pedro Haro is the Deputy Director for Mental Health America of Hawaii

Date: Friday, March 8, 2019  

Location: Pomaikai Ballrooms at Dole Cannery

2018
2018 Healthy Living for Mental Wellness

We all have mental health challenges. Join us in learning what we can do to improve our overall health to feel better and support our loved ones.

Keynote Speaker: Paul Gionfriddo, President of Mental Health America

Panelist:

Denis Mee-Lee, Jacqueline Chan, Mara J. Pike, Anisa Wiseman
~

Our speakers covered:

– new science on the connection of nutrition and exercise to improved mental health

– healthy lifestyle changes for yourself, your family, your workplace, and your community

– innovative practices to reduce stress and improve mental and emotional wellbeing

2017
2017 For People with Mental Illness: Why We Fight in the Open

NAMI Hawaii State Conference 2017 in Partnership with Mental Health America of Hawaii

Key Note Speaker: Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO of Mental Health America

Topic:

“As the parent of a now-adult son Tim, who developed a serious mental illness while only a child, Paul has experienced first-hand the challenges families face in accessing services and supports for loved ones. Through his interactions with educators, providers, insurers, lawyers, sheriffs, and others with whom Tim interacted, Paul developed a clear understanding of the barriers that we face on pathways to recovery and independence. He has brought this decades-long experience to his writing in his book, Losing Tim, and to his work as President and CEO of Mental Health America, the nation’s oldest mental health advocacy organization. He speaks openly, honestly, and passionately about how systems can respond to and support individuals and families who have lived through these experiences if we fight openly for what we need, and offers hope for the future.”

Panelist: Paul Gionfriddo CEO of Mental Health America, Pam Gionfriddo;CEO of Mental Health Associations of Palm Beach County; Psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Kissinger; Kathleen Rhoads Merriam from Hawaii Adult Mental Health Division and Corey Arakaki, UH West Oahu Student living in recovery.

2016
2016 Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma

NAMI Hawaii and Queen’s Medical Center Day Treatment Services presents the 2nd annual NAMI Hawaii Conference dedicated to the memory of Benjamin Madigan Snavely.

The purpose of this conference was to provide awareness and an overview of mental illness and addiction; art therapy; and information on services, family support programs, and treatment services.   

Date: Saturday, June 18, 2016 
Location: Queen’s Conference Center  

Mental Illness and Addiction 

Speaker DR. DEBORAH KISSINGER, DO, specialist in addiction psychiatry at Queen’s Medical Center speaking on the co-occurring disorder, and two individuals sharing their recovery story.  Also information on services and support.   

Art Therapy Workshop for Mental Health (Afternoon Speakers and Art Workshop) First speaker, KATE MADIGAN, a licensed art therapist from Patton State Hospital in California.  Second speakers, SELF-DISCOVERY THROUGH ART,  NIDHI CHABORA, APRN and NANCY JOE “NJ” MOSES, MA, a visual arts educator.

2015
2015 Mental Health: A Compassionate Response

The purpose of this conference was to provide an overview of mental illness and to increase understanding and compassion across our faith and other communities. We welcomed church staff, volunteers, clergy, ushers, greeters, family members, the interfaith community, and anyone who is in contact with the seriously mentally ill.   

GENERAL SESSION
Dr. Denis Mee-Lee. MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hawaii and Jerry Coffee, LCSW, Clinical Director of IHS, presented an overview of mental illness and recovery.

BREAK-OUT CONVERSATIONS:

1st and 2nd Response to the Mentally Ill  

Mental Illness In Your Family

Faith and the Mentally Ill