Black Mental Wellness Conference: Healing Across Generations

We are excited to announce the , which will be held on November 6, 2026 at the Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

The 2026 conference will highlight the strengths and distinct intergenerational perspectives that shape Black mental health, with the goal of broadening our understanding of wellness and healing in the Black community.

Since launching in 2020, the Black Mental Wellness Annual Conference has welcomed over 1,500 attendees and continues to grow each year. The conference brings together mental health professionals, students, community advocates, educators, faith leaders, and individuals with lived experience to create a space for learning, dialogue, and communitycentered healing.

This is a conference for anyone who is invested in Black mental health and wellness.

APA Continuing Education

Black Mental Wellness, Corp. is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 7.5 continuing education for psychologists are available for registrants who attend the live conference. Black Mental Wellness, Corp. maintains responsibility for this conference and its content.

For more information:

Website: https://www.blackmentalwellness.com/blackmentalwellnessconference

Conference

Conference

Conference

Donations

Donate today to support our training programs, therapy access, and educational events sponsored by the Black Mental Wellness Foundation.

If you wish to cancel your registration and receive a refund, contact Nicole Cammack at [email protected] BEFORE September 30, 2026. A $75 administrative fee will be applied to all refunds.

No cancellations will be accepted after September 30, 2026 including medical, personal, or work-related reasons.

Info: This opening panel will set the stage for the Black Mental Wellness Conference: Healing Across Generations by exploring how mental health, coping strategies, cultural strengths, and community experiences have evolved across generations within the Black community. This panel will also introduce the themes that will be explored throughout the conference—including men’s mental health, women’s wellness, intergenerational trauma, children and youth development, and the intersection between faith, emotional expression, and spirituality across generations. Panelists representing diverse age groups and professional backgrounds will reflect on the historical, cultural, and social contexts that have shaped mental health experiences for youth, adults, and elders. Through dialogue and storytelling, the discussion will highlight the ways generational wisdom, resilience, and evolving conversations around mental health can foster deeper understanding and collective healing.

Info: Black women often carry the weight of multiple identities and roles, from caregivers to community leaders, and each generation has faced distinct mental health challenges due to systemic oppression, racial trauma, and gendered expectations. This session will center the intergenerational experiences of Black women and provide a safe space for sharing, healing, and empowerment. Attendees will engage in conversation on the importance of self-care, community support, and mental health advocacy across generations, with an emphasis on creating sustainable practices for mental wellness.

Info: This session will provide a transformative space for participants to engage in a healing practice during the conference. Through reflection, storytelling, sound bowl healing, yoga and gentle movement, dance, and collective healing, attendees will acknowledge the strength of generations our ancestors who cultivated community and laid the foundation for our resilience today.  

Info: Poster Session: will allow presenters to visually share and present research practices related to the conference theme, Healing Across Generations.  

Info: In this session, we will explore the unique generational challenges that Black men face, including the pressures of masculinity, societal expectations, and systemic barriers. This discussion will focus on varying intergenerational strategies for healing, strengthening mental resilience, and creating supportive spaces for Black men. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a candid, open conversation about breaking down mental health stigmas and fostering brotherhood in healing.

Info: This session examines the roots of intergenerational trauma and its enduring impact within Black communities. Participants will explore how trauma is transmitted across generations and how it shapes physical and emotional health, parenting practices, and identity formation. The session will also highlight culturally grounded strategies for cultivating healing across generations.

Info: This session will examine intersections of faith, emotional expression, and healing within Black communities, with attention to how these experiences are shaped across generations. Participants will examine how faith and spirituality can serve as sources of strength and directly influence beliefs about emotional expression and methods of coping. This session will also highlight unique generational differences in how emotions are understood and expressed, and offer culturally grounded strategies that foster dialogue, connection, and healing across generations.

Info: This session will provide a transformative space for participants to engage in a healing practice during the conference. Through reflection, storytelling, sound bowl healing, yoga and gentle movement, dance, and collective healing, attendees will acknowledge the strength of generations our ancestors who cultivated community and laid the foundation for our resilience today. 

Info: Mental health among youth is often shaped by family systems, cultural values, and intergenerational experiences. In this roundtable discussion, presenters will explore how family communication patterns, beliefs about mental health, and experiences with racism influence emotional development and well-being among Black youth. While conversations about youth mental health often center on challenges, this session intentionally shifts the lens to also highlight resilience, strength, and the capacity to thrive, and strategies that can support youth in navigating current stressors. Attendees will be introduced to strength-based, culturally grounded approaches that support youth mental health and promote overall wellness.

Info: The conference will close with a powerful panel featuring individuals who have lived experience with mental health challenges and triumphs. These speakers will share their personal journeys of healing, resilience, and reclaiming their power. The panel will serve as a reminder of the intergenerational strength within our community and will inspire all attendees to continue their own journeys of mental wellness and healing.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, United States

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

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