2026 Joint Mental Health Summit

Hybrid: In-person at Virginia Health Sciences or virtually via Zoom

* For in-person attendees, registration and breakfast begins at 8:00am*

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize gender-specific challenges and obstacles for women to pursue mental and behavioral health services such as unique clinical presentations, adverse childhood experiences, and societal expectations and responsibilities.
2. Define systemic barriers for women accessing behavioral health treatment and support programs including stigma, provider workforce shortages, fragmented care delivery systems, and sociocultural factors such as family caregiver needs, and lack of culturally sensitive care.
3. Examine evidence-based approaches to engage women in the awareness and education of mental wellbeing, symptoms of mental illness, and effective strategies to access behavioral health support programs and treatment services.

Lunch and free parking at EVMS will be available for in-person attendees!

Keynote Presentation: "Strong Doesn’t Mean Silent: Women’s Mental Health Across the Lifespan"

Natasha Sriraman, MD, MPH, FAAP, FABM, PMH-C

President, Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters Center for Maternal & Child Health Equity and Advocacy

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, EVMS School of Medicine, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

Special Presentation: "Boundaries, Belonging, and Burnout: Bridging the Support Gap in Women's Mental Health"

Nicole Dutta, PhD

Psychology Program Manager for Women’s Mental Health, Hampton VAMC

Lived Experiences Fireside Chat: TBD

Break Out Sessions will highlight generational challenges. You will choose one per time slot.

A1: Youth Focus (topic focusing on under 20)

A2: Middle Age (topic focusing on 40-60)

B1: Middle Age (topic focusing on 20-40)

B2: Senior Focus (topic focusing on 60+)

Wellness Moment

VHS Counseling and Art Therapy

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Waitzer Hall, 735 Fairfax Avenue, Norfolk, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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