NatCon26 and Mental Health First Aid Summit Call for Presentations and Award Nominations

NatCon26 and Mental Health First Aid Summit Call for Presentations

Proposals are being accepted for the following formats: MHFA Summit breakout presentations, MHFA Summit forums, NatCon breakout presentations and NatCon Digital Poster Presentations. You will be asked to specify your session format during the submittal process.

• MHFA Summit Breakout Presentations (Sunday, April 26): These are presented to MHFA Instructors and Coordinators. They can focus on funding initiatives, sharing inspirational stories from peers and public figures, or reaching new audiences in your community. The National Council will combine individual presentation proposals and presenters around relevant topics as appropriate.
  
  
• MHFA Summit Breakout Forum (Sunday, April 26): These are for MHFA Instructors and Coordinators who prefer a discussion-based approach. These one-hour sessions focus on sharing data, outcomes and implementation strategies in an interactive, conversational setting. Unlike traditional breakout sessions, these forums encourage real-time audience engagement and dialogue. Presentations can explore topics such as funding opportunities, personal stories (from peers or public figures) and strategies for reaching new audiences. Sessions are delivered without slides, with shorter presentations that allow ample time for audience discussion.
  
  
• NatCon26 Breakout Presentations: These last for one hour and include a Q&A period. They are dynamic and have a scope beyond individual programs. They focus on emerging trends, creative concepts and new solutions that benefit the field and shape the future. Breakout presentations may have one presenter, multiple presenters or be formulated as a panel. No more than four presenters are permitted per session, and the National Council may combine individual presentation proposals and presenters around relevant topics.
  
  
• Digital Poster Presentations: These are interactive displays of innovative practices and game-changing programs can include the latest in research and data. The posters may be viewed throughout the Conference on touchscreens in the Exhibit Hall. On April 27 and April 28, one to two authors per poster are scheduled to present their information and answer questions about their posters for 30 minutes.

2026 National Council Awards of Excellence

Nominations are being accepted for the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Peer Specialist of the Year Award.

• Lifetime Achievement: This award recognizes an individual whose tireless efforts, far-reaching impact and commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable Americans living with mental health and substance use challenges are unmatched.
  
  
• Peer Specialist of the Year: This award recognizes an individual with lived experience who works in a health care organization and uses his or her strengths to help peers on their road to recovery.

2026 Mental Health First Aid Impact Awards

Nominations are being accepted for the following awards: Organization of the Year, Instructor of the Year and Coordinator of the Year.

• Organization of the Year: This award recognizes an organization with certified Adult, Youth or teen MHFA Instructors who implement creative solutions to expand MHFA within their organization, their communities and externally.
  
  
• Instructor of the Year: This award recognizes individual Adult, Youth, teen and community-specific course MHFA Instructors who are changing the conversation around mental wellbeing through the courses they teach and the relationships built to offer MHFA.
  
  
• Coordinator of the Year: This award recognizes an individual Adult, Youth or teen MHFA Coordinator who is driving change within their organization and community by supporting Instructors, expanding course reach and strengthening community relationships through innovative approaches to delivering MHFA. 

Schedule

Sep. 15, 2025: Submission deadline for NatCon26 and MHFA Summit Presentations and Awards of Excellence Nominations.

Nov. 14, 2025: Submission deadline for MHFA Impact Award nominations.

Nov. 21, 2025: Acceptance/rejection notifications sent to all who submitted NatCon26 and MHFA Summit Presentations and Awards of Excellence nominations.

Feb. 1, 2026: Acceptance/rejection notifications sent to all who submitted MHFA Impact Award nominations.