OXFORD, AL — Community members from across Northeast Alabama are invited to attend the annual Out of the Shadows Summit on Sept. 1 at the Oxford Civic Center for a day of education, collaboration and discussion focused on improving mental health outcomes.
According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly one in four U.S. adults—23.4%, or approximately 61.5 million people—experienced a mental illness within the past year.
Since its launch in 2017, the Out of the Shadows Summit has brought together mental health professionals, healthcare providers, educators, first responders, faith leaders, students and community members to discuss mental health challenges and explore solutions. The conference has been held annually, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The summit is co-hosted by Jacksonville State University’s Department of Social Work, the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, Highland Health Systems, the Oxford Police Department, United Way of East Central Alabama, Bradford Health Services and St. Michael’s Clinic.
This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Collaboration, Connection, and Care,” emphasizes the importance of partnerships and community engagement in improving mental health outcomes. The keynote address, “From the Outside Looking In: How Connection Breaks the Cycle,” will be presented by Jared Wilson.
Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from 25 breakout sessions covering a broad range of topics, including trauma-informed care, caregiver support, autism spectrum disorder, substance use recovery, student-athlete mental wellness, faith and mental health, leadership, resilience, artificial intelligence in behavioral healthcare and whole-person approaches to recovery. Sessions will be led by mental health professionals, educators, healthcare providers and community advocates from across the region.
Sponsors for this year’s summit include the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, Regional Medical Center, RMC Foundation, Calhoun County Medical Society and Alabama Power.
Professional registration is $85, while consumers, family members and advocates may register for $10. Registration includes lunch, and attendees may earn 5.5 contact hours for nurses, counselors and social workers through Bradford Health Services.
For additional information or to register, visit OutOfShadowsSummit.com.
