It’s the first time the annual conference has been devoted entirely to mental health, said Jami Haberl, executive director of the Healthiest State Initiative. The statewide initiative was launched in 2011 with the goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.  

The timing of the conference provides a great way for organizations to continue the momentum begun by Capital Crossroads’ Community Conversations on mental health and the Mind Matters exhibit that was hosted by the Science Center of Iowa, she said. 

“As Mind Matters leaves Iowa, we wanted to make sure there is a follow-up,” Haberl said. “We knew that people would be looking for more information.” 

Sarah Noll Wilson, a dynamic executive coach from Des Moines, will provide an interactive keynote address for this year’s conference, which has the theme: “Putting Awareness to Action.” Wilson’s presentation will include an action planning activity that will continue throughout the rest of the daylong conference. 

As part of the interactive panel discussions, several Iowa employers that have implemented wellness programs supportive of mental health will present their ideas that worked in breakout sessions. Those companies include Bank of America, Corteva Agriscience, the Iowa Clinic and Sukup Manufacturing. 

The conference will also serve as the official launch of the Make It OK campaign in Iowa. The goal of Make It OK, developed by HealthPartners, is to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by encouraging open conversations.

As of mid-April about half the 300 conference seats had been sold; Haberl is encouraging top leaders of organizations to attend. “Obviously, building culture comes from the top — we want [leaders and managers] to be engaged because that’s the only way we have change,” she said.  
The registration deadline for the conference is May 10; for more information and to register, click here.