2024 Mental Health Conference
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Conference
The 2025 Active Minds Mental Health Conference is the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults.
This highly anticipated annual conference brings together hundreds of young adults and mental health advocates from across the country to share ideas and advance knowledge about mental health education, advocacy, and awareness.
The conference will showcase the most innovative and effective approaches for youth and young adults to mobilize to transform how mental health is valued and prioritized on campuses, in schools, in the transition to the workplace, and within our communities.
This is the largest conference in the nation for young adult advocates! Most of our attendees are ages 18-25, and we welcome all who want to champion a new era of mental health.
The target audience for the 2025 conference is young adults, including students (ages 18-25). If you are under the age of 18 and interested in attending the conference, please contact conference@activeminds.org for additional information.
The 2025 conference will be held Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2 at the Capital Hilton Hotel. Information about sessions and keynotes will be listed on the Conference Page.
Conference Agenda
Yes, you choose which sessions and events to attend. We encourage you to go to as many as you can to get the full benefit of the conference.
The full conference schedule will be published closer to the conference day. The conference will run from 8:00am – 6:00pm on Friday, August 1 and 9:00am-4:00pm on Saturday, August 2. To see the types of speakers, sessions, and interactive elements you can expect, you can visit the 2024 Conference Digital Program.
Registration
The registration fee covers the cost to attend both days of the 2025 Active Minds Mental Health Conference, conference materials, and four meals throughout the event. Please make hotel and travel arrangements separately.
If you are registering more than four attendees, please contact Emelyne Ndikumasabo at emelyne@activeminds.org to process the group registration. We do offer a 20% group registration discount when registering more than four attendees.
No, on-site registration is not available.
Early Bird Registration: Early Bird Registration is available until April 30th at 4:00pm ET. The registration fee will be $110 for young adults and $200 for general.
Regular Registration: The regular online registration rate is in effect from May 1st until July 24th at 4pm ET. The registration fee will be $160 for young adults and $250 for general. After July 24th, online registration is closed.
On-site registration will not be available.
Please head to this form to register!
Yes, as long as you confirm the transfer before Thursday, July 17, 2025. To do so, contact conference@activeminds.org with the name of the original registrant and the name and contact information for the individual replacing them.
We can offer a refund on the registration fee until July 22, 2025, at 5pm ET. We are not able to offer refunds after this cut-off date because meals and other event expenses will have been confirmed.
A discounted early bird registration fee is available until April 30, 2025, at 4:00 pm ET.
We also offer a discounted registration fee for students and 20% group registration discount for those registering more than 4 attendees.
Stipend Funding
Active Minds aims to provide a conference that is accessible to people who are passionate about changing the culture around mental health, despite potential financial barriers. Stipend funding is available for youth and young adults (ages 18–25) through an application process to assist the financial barrier that prevents youth and young adults from attending our Mental Health Conference located in Washington, DC.
Please apply for the stipend BEFORE registering for the conference. Applications are open until online registration closes on July 24th. Stipends will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
All youth and young adults who are awarded a stipend will receive free conference registration, and the stipends can be applied towards lodging needs only.
Please note that your stipend may not cover the full cost of your lodging needs.
Stipends are processed via BILL.com (direct deposit) or PayPal.
If you choose BILL.com, you’ll receive an email titled “Active Minds EFT Payment Setup.” Accept the invite and follow the included PDF instructions to create your account. Once your account and bank are verified, we’ll enter an invoice for your stipend. You’ll get email updates when the invoice is pending approval, approved, and paid, along with the estimated arrival date. For questions, contact Active Minds’ Senior Associate, Accounting, at maddie.sloan@activeminds.org.
If you already have a BILL.com account or want to set one up before receiving the invite, please send us your Payment Network ID (PNI). To find it:
- Log into BILL.com and click your initials in the top right corner.
- Select Profile.
- Navigate to Company Settings > Company Profile > Network.
- Copy your PNI and send it to chapters@activeminds.org.
Due to the high volume of stipend applications we receive, your stipend is non-transferable to individuals in your chapter. We carefully review each application to ensure that funds are being distributed equitably.
No. Stipends are to assist in lodging expenses related to the Active Minds Mental Health Conference only and are non-transferable.
Yes! If you are awarded a conference stipend, you will receive free registration for our Conference.
Your Conference Registration Fee, which is waived for Stipend Recipients, covers the cost of four meals provided to you during the conference, breakfast, and lunch on both Friday and Saturday.
Our team has thoroughly researched and calculated the average hotel night cost to determine a fixed rate for stipend recipients.
Our team has a responsibility to equitably distribute funds to all stipend recipients to ensure that all stipend recipients have the chance and opportunity to attend our Mental Health Conference. With this in mind, we are not able to provide an additional amount to the original amount that was awarded.
Payment
If you need help with a payment, please contact conference@activeminds.org.
Our online registration system only accepts payment via credit card.
If you need to pay via check or cash, please email conference@activeminds.org for registration assistance.
Sponsorships
Yes! Sponsorship packages can be customized depending on your organization’s needs. Please contact conference@activeminds.org and we’ll be happy to work with you.
Your company or organization is invited to become a sponsor at the Active Minds 2025 Mental Health Conference. Please see the Sponsorship Packet for opportunities and additional information.
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at conference@activeminds.org to discuss partnership and sponsorship opportunities. We’re happy to work with you!
Speakers
Dates and times that each keynote speaker will be presenting will be listed on the Conference Agenda page, coming soon!
Information coming soon!
Yes! The Innovation Expo will be held on Saturday, August 2 and will be an opportunity to feature innovative programs and initiatives that relate to the conference theme, “Stories That Move.” Each selected presenter will be provided a table, which the presenter can use to feature tri-fold project display boards, hand-outs and giveaways, signs and banners, table covers, videos, or other materials that help describe the program/initiative. Please contact conference@activeminds.org with any questions.
The call for proposals is closed for the 2024 Active Minds Active Minds Mental Health Conference and additional information about our presenters will be posted soon.
Miscellaneous
We welcome whatever you feel most comfortable in — you’ll see attendees repping their Active Minds t-shirts, showing off their own school spirit, and rocking business casual looks. We ask that you please avoid attire with inappropriate language or images. Please keep in mind that the hotel ballrooms can be on a colder-side temperature wise.
Yes, the hotel and conference center are wheelchair accessible. We encourage all persons with disabilities to participate in our programs and activities.
If you anticipate needing an accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please email conference@activeminds.org or call 202-332-9595 in advance.
We strive to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
If you are in need of any services to ensure that you are able to engage fully in the conference, please reach out to conference@activeminds.org so that we can work to accommodate your needs.
Yes! Merchandise from the Active Minds Shop will be available for purchase on-site at the conference. Come prepared to buy all of your Active Minds swag and save on shipping!
We will be accepting cash, credit cards, and checks.
Active Minds is thrilled to recognize outstanding individuals, schools, chapters, and more during our 2025 Mental Health Conference.
The application for awards is open through Friday, April 18 at 5PM ET.
If you have other questions not answered here, please email conference@activeminds.org.
COVID-19 information
With the ongoing public health emergencies, Active Minds’ top priority is the health and safety of our Conference attendees, staff, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors. We will continue to monitor and update safety precautions for the conference following any COVID-19 protocols and procedures set forth by the federal government (including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Washington, D.C. government officials, and the Capital Hilton Hotel.
We reserve the right to modify these policies and procedures at any time given the rapidly changing nature of any current and ongoing public health emergencies.
COVID-19 notice and waiver
Active Minds will require registrants to understand the in-person conference is taking place during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Registrants will be asked to click “I understand” following reading the waiver information. The waiver language is listed below:
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and is extremely contagious. Active Minds will continue to follow applicable protocols to mitigate attendees’ potential exposure to COVID-19; however, Active Minds cannot guarantee that attendees will not become infected with COVID-19. By registering for the Active Minds 2023 Mental Health Conference, I,
- Acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19;
- Voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending the Active Minds Conference which exposure or infection may come from the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, Active Minds employees, volunteers, and program participants and their families;
- Acknowledge that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death; and
- Hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless Active Minds, its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any injury to me resulting from being exposed to or infected by COVID-19 in connection with my attendance at the Active Minds Conference (including claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of Active Minds, its employees, agents, and representatives).
Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society.