06/02/2026
Our very own Alexie, NAMI Richland County's Youth Program Coordinator, had the opportunity to represent us at NAMICon 2026 during Mental Health Awareness Month. We wanted to share what she has to say about it:
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, I am grateful to have represented our local Ohio affiliate at NAMICon 2026.
This year's theme, Advancing Care, Community, and Caring, underscored the importance of collective responsibility in strengthening mental health systems and ensuring support is accessible, responsive, and rooted in connection.
Throughout the conference, I had the opportunity to engage with researchers, clinicians, advocates, and individuals with lived experience who are shaping the future of mental health care. A consistent focus across sessions was youth mental health, particularly the importance of early identification, prevention, and school and community based supports.
One quote that stayed with me came from TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie: "Mental health stigma is bad, silence is deadly." It was a powerful reminder of how often silence and stigma delay people from accessing support when it is needed most.
Equally important were conversations around the barriers that continue to impact youth access to care, including long wait times, workforce shortages in mental health fields, limited awareness of available resources, and gaps in early identification.
As someone committed to youth mental health, I left Atlanta with a deeper sense of hope and urgency. There is meaningful progress in research, policy, and practice, but it only matters if it reaches young people in time. Too often, support arrives after things have already felt too heavy for too long.
To anyone who may be struggling right now, whether or not it has been shared with others, your experience is valid and deserving of care. You don't need to wait for things to get worse or for the perfect words to exist in order to reach out. Support is meant for you at all times, not only in crises. 💚
