2023 NAMI Montana Conference
September 7, 2023
Please consider joining us for the 2023 NAMI Montana Conference in Billings, Montana, from October 25–27. We are excited to bring together an outstanding group of speakers from across Montana and the country to explore innovation, recovery, and systems change in mental health care.
Conference Highlights
Continuing Education Credits available for licensees of the Montana Behavioral Health Board
Peer scholarships available
Free online attendance option for those unable to join in person
Initial Speaker Lineup
Phillip K. Naithram
A Journey Toward Recovery Leads to a Message of Hope
Phillip restarted his life at age 31 after more than a decade of co-occurring mental health challenges, alcohol use disorder, and suicidality. Today, he is a nationally recognized podcast host, entrepreneur, and consultant dedicated to helping others break limiting beliefs and build meaningful lives—one day at a time.
Dr. Stuart Hoffman, PhD
Update on the Hannon Precision Brain Health Initiative
Dr. Hoffman is the Senior Health Science Officer for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Office of Research and Development at the Veterans Health Administration. He will provide an update on the Hannon Precision Brain Health Initiative, a landmark VA effort to develop precision diagnostics and treatments for mental health and brain injury. The initiative is named in honor of longtime NAMI Montana volunteer Commander John Scott Hannon.
Dr. Eric Arzubi, MD
Telehealth Mental Health Services: Where We Are and Where We’re Going
Dr. Arzubi co-founded Frontier Psychiatry in 2019 to address Montana’s mental health crisis with accelerated and innovative care models. Former Chair of Psychiatry at Billings Clinic, he led the creation of Montana’s first psychiatry residency program and its first EmPATH Unit for crisis care. He is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and is board-certified in both general and child/adolescent psychiatry.
Don Wetzel Jr.
Building a Future for Montana’s Native Youth and Young Adults
A member of the Blackfeet Tribe, Don Wetzel Jr. has spent more than seventeen years building hope for Native youth by honoring the wisdom of elders while embracing modern tools. His leadership includes work with the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, the Office of Public Instruction, and the Indian Athletic Hall of Fame.
Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission
Understanding Montana’s Historic Behavioral Health Investment and How to Provide Input
Signed into law in May 2023, House Bill 872 established a $300 million, generational investment in Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities systems. This session will explain the role of the Commission created by HB 872 and how Montanans can engage in shaping its recommendations.
Registration & Scholarships
Conference page and registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-nami-montana-conference-tickets-695150392537Peer scholarship application:
https://forms.gle/RiwRE7cUPZb1a5vN9
The conference will also be streamed online at no cost.
We hope you can join us for this meaningful gathering of peers, families, clinicians, advocates, and policymakers.
Thank you,
Matt Kuntz
Executive Director
NAMI Montana