More than 500 community leaders, mental health professionals, state officials participate in historic Mental Health Summit

Brought leaders together for mental health

INDIANAPOLIS (May 16, 2023) –The Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health, co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and former Eli Lily & Company CEO John Lechleiter, hosted the inaugural Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health Summit on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis. More than 500 Indiana community leaders, mental health professionals and state officials participated in the event. 

Organized by the Sagamore Institute, the Summit is part of the Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health’s mission to serve as a catalyst for change to improve the mental health status of all Indiana citizens. The Summit focused on three tracks: faith, youth and adolescence, and workforce bringing together thought leaders within each intersection of mental health matters.

Participants included Gov. Eric Holcomb, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, State Senator Mike Crider and State Representative Greg Steuerwald among others.

“Today’s historic Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health Summit helped us remember where we’ve been, determine where we need to be and how we get there,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I am so appreciative of the collaborative work being done at every level to assist Hoosiers struggling with mental illness and addiction issues. Today was an example of that effort.”

Speakers included Monty Burks, Director of Faith-Based Initiatives, Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, Award-Winning Science Journalist, Author, and Internationally Recognized Speaker, and Dr. Jerome Adams, Purdue University Executive Director of Health Equity & Initiatives and Former U.S. Surgeon General. In addition to featured speakers, break-out sessions were held throughout the day.

Summit sponsors included Pacers Sports and Entertainment Group, Indianapolis Colts, Riley Children’s Health, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Hamilton County Community Foundation, Indianapolis Foundation, Salesforce, Syra Health Corp. and Eli Lilly and Company.

A full list of sessions and speakers can be found here.