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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 3, 2025

PITTSBURGH - NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s 2025 Youth Mental Health Conference will take place on Friday, February 7 at The Westin Pittsburgh. The conference will feature a national speaker on social media and teen suicide risk, and a discussion with NAMI’s Associate Medical Director on a new book aimed at helping parents navigate youth mental health hurdles.  

“We’ve heard over and over that social media is harmful to youth mental health,” said Christine Michaels, CEO of NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania. “But we also know it can be helpful, so we want to have a discussion that can help teens and caregivers understand how to identify and separate the good from the bad.” 

Dr. Jessica Hamilton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University. During her keynote presentation, The Clock is TikToking: The Urgent Need to Understand Social Media and Teen Suicide Risk, Dr. Hamilton will present ongoing research to better understand the role of social media in both risk and protection in suicidal thinking. She will also discuss important considerations when working with teens about social media and practical tips to promote teen mental health.  

“Social media does not exist in a vacuum, and taking it away from teens will not single-handedly resolve the teen mental health crisis,” said Dr. Hamilton. “We need a more nuanced understanding and approach to social media if we want to improve mental health for young people today.” 

The afternoon session will feature a conversation with NAMI’s Associate Medical Director Christine Crawford, MD. Dr. Crawford is a Harvard-trained adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist who wrote the book, You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health. Dr. Crawford will highlight important takeaways from her book including how parents can navigate crucial mental health conversations with their children. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Charma D. Dudley, licensed psychologist and Associate Director of Behavioral Health Services at Carelon. 

The conference will also recognize the winner of NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s 2025 Youth Mental Health Leadership Award Essay Contest, Connor Dalgaard, a West Allegheny High School graduate and Vassar College student. Connor will read his essay, and accept his award and $1,000 scholarship. He is also presenting a workshop on supporting youth mental health changemakers. 

What:  NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s annual Youth Mental Health Conference 

Location:  The Westin Pittsburgh | 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 

Date:  Friday, February 7, 2025 

Time:  7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

*Interview opportunities available. Contact Maria Kakay for more information. 

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