The Conference Experience

Each year's conference has been filled with celebrations. We celebrate life and our journey to recovery through music, dance and art, drop-in center discussions, and workshops presented by peers who offer their insights of lived experience.

Workshops are also provided by mental health professionals and organizations who share mental health recovery tools and supports.

Last year's keynote speaker was Robert Whitaker, author of Anatomy of an Epidemic. Robert brought insights into research, psychiatric practice, and the business of pharmaceutical companies at both his speech and his workshop.

Also at last year's conference, the Hike for Mental Health scholarship fund-raising campaign was kicked off by Tracey Carney. Read more about the Hike for Mental Health on this Web site.

Past speakers have included Rita Cisneros and Mark Davis of Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association; Gina Calhoun, formerly of OMHSAS; Dr. Loren Crabtree of Project Transition; Hikmah Gardiner of the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania; Dr. Ken Thompson, psychiatrist and former Associate Director of Medical Affairs for CMS in SAMHSA; several OMHSAS Deputy Secretaries through the years; and, Ron Bassman, a psychotherapist, among many others.

Our exhibitors bring us useful up-to-date information on resources, community supports, providers of mental health services and supports, and recovery resources both locally and statewide.

We renew old acquaintances at the conference, make new friends and learn from each others' experiences. The conference gives us the chance to get together to form new ways to address concerns and find strength as a unity of diverse voices.

Entertainment celebrating recovery has included the sharing of many talents through coffee houses, dances, drum circles, singer/songwriters, and creative workshops on art, poetry, and music. The uniqueness of conference offerings is seen in the annual Art Show and our publication of Insight, a poetry and art publication.

Conferences often end with a special event. The movie OC87: The Obsessive Compulsive Major Depression Bipolar Asperger's Movie was shown in 2010 and got rave reviews. It was a unique opportunity to watch someone's recovery journey expressed through film and an inspiration to continue on our own creative journeys to wellness.

June 5-7, 2012 - Save the Date!

The 2012 conference is scheduled for June 5-7, 2012 at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel.

For more information email or call us at 717-564-4930, or print the Conference brochure.

As heard at the 23rd Annual Pennsylvania Statewide Consumer Conference - The individuals attending conference were interested in networking with others to achieve goals both for themselves and the communities they live in. There was quiet humility blended with an "I can do this or together we can do this" attitude. Despite challenging times financially, most held a quiet, unpretentious belief in the universe and themselves that they could be and would be successful in achieving their goals. I found that beautiful.