Sixth Annual Workplace Mental Health Conference

Detailed Agenda

Times listed below are EDT. All sessions take place virtually using Zoom.

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August 6, 2025

12:30 - 12:45 p.m

Welcome and opening remarks

  • Sagar Parikh, M.D., FRCPC, co-lead, Workplace Mental Health Solutions, Eisenberg Family Depression Center
  • Danielle Taubman, M.P.H., project manager, Workplace Mental Health Solutions, Eisenberg Family Depression Center 
12:45 - 1:30 p.m.

Keynote address

Fostering Psychological Safety in Turbulent Times

Psychological safety is vital for organizations facing uncertainty and rapid change in their environments. It is key to adaptation and thriving amid stress. But it is also challenging to foster when the environment surrounding organizations is in turbulence. This keynote address will describe how organizations and leaders can foster psychological safety among their workforces during such challenging times.

Michaela Kerrissey, Ph.D., M.S., associate professor of management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

1:30 - 1:35 p.m.Break (5 minutes)
1:35 - 2:20 p.m.

Panel session

Innovative Policies and Practices Around Workplace Mental Health

Learn about the latest in innovative policies and emerging practices shaping the future of workplace mental health. This interactive panel will explore NAMI’s 2025 Workplace Mental Health Poll and covers real-world approaches employers are using to support mental health. This session includes opportunities for attendees to ask questions and gain valuable insights tailored to their unique workplace needs.

Panelists:

  • Megan Delp, Psy.D., LCSW, director, Workplace Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Elizabeth Harry, M.D., chief well-being officer, Michigan Medicine Office of Well-being, associate professor of internal medicine and learning health sciences, University of Michigan Medical School
  • Amy Lopez, Ph.D., LCSW, assistant professor and director, Colorado Educator Support Program, University of Colorado

Moderated by Sean Egan, J.D., deputy director of labor, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

2:20 - 2:30 p.m.Break (10 minutes)
2:30 - 3:15 p.m.

Concurrent sessions #1 and #2

Total Worker Health®: Moving from Awareness into Action

Mental health can have a profound impact on workplace safety and productivity. During this session, participants will better understand where current mental health resources may fall short in addressing accessibility, affordability and anonymity and how to integrate improved mental health support into their organization's employee wellness programs.

Moderated by Sinziana Luchian, M.B.A., Healthcare Consultant 

Supporting the Mental Health of Your Family Caregiver Employees

One in five employees has significant caregiving responsibilities at home, creating chronic stress that contributes to mental health issues. Organizations like the Caregiver Action Network can help you recognize the impact of caregiving on employee well-being. This session will teach you ways to identify strategies that support employee mental health, apply practical tools and technology to caregiving to alleviate stress and improve efficiency, and use workplace resources to help caregiving employees.

Moderated by Danielle Taubman, M.P.H., project manager, Workplace Mental Health Solutions, Eisenberg Family Depression Center

3:15 - 3:20 p.m.Break (5 minutes)
3:20 - 4:05 p.m.

Concurrent sessions #3 and #4

Embedding Micropractices & Positive Psychology into a Workplace Well-being Campaign

Micropractices are brief, yet effective ways to promote mental health and well-being. By encouraging these small breaks designed to support wellness and recognizing staff commitment, these micropractices can have a ripple effect of improving well-being across an organization. This presentation will showcase how one organization implemented these practices and how workplaces can promote micropractice strategies and tools rooted in positive psychology to address well-being challenges among employees.

  • Madison Nitzkin (Sabbath), B.S.N., R.N., MM, well-being program manager, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Moderated by Sinziana Luchian, M.B.A., Healthcare Consultant

Hustle or Burnout? How Social Media and Workplace Tech Fuel Toxic Productivity

“Hustle culture” is a growing trend on social media. Combined with emerging technologies, workplaces are at risk of becoming toxic productivity environments that harm employee mental health. Attendees will learn the neuroscience behind digital burnout and how to identify warning signs in their organization's tech usage patterns, and gain practical strategies for implementing digital wellness initiatives. Leaders will leave with specific learning tools to establish healthy digital boundaries, redesign performance metrics, and evaluate whether emerging AI tools are helping or harming employee mental health.

Moderated by Danielle Taubman, M.P.H., project manager, Workplace Mental Health Solutions, Eisenberg Family Depression Center

4:05 - 4:10 p.m.Break (5 minutes)
4:10 - 4:50 p.m.

Fireside chat

Rethinking Employee Assistance Programs: Where Do They Fit in the Evolving Mental Health Landscape?

With the emergence of rapidly evolving digital tools, the role of traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) is under growing scrutiny. In this fireside chat, hear from two experts from the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA), the world’s largest organization for employee assistance professionals. During this discussion, they’ll unpack the value, limitations and future of EAPs.

4:50 - 5 p.m.

Closing remarks

5 p.m.Conference ends