This annual hybrid conference is a collaboration between UVU organizations focused on the well-being of UVU community members and beyond. Our goal is to create a dynamic and enriching experience for attendees to learn more about mental health.
The UVU Mental Health Conference is structured around subject matter tracks. Explore a variety of tracks or focus on one that best fits the needs of you or your professional environment.
This conference features a series of sessions focused on important mental health and well-being topics. Experts will provide insights, strategies, and resources to address key challenges affecting individuals and communities.
Session Topics Include:
Advancing Mental health through
Connection, Resources & Education
Sessions are beneficial for anyone looking for guidance in the fields of:
With the hope that attendees leave the conference feeling equipped with new knowledge and skills to help build bridges of understanding, session speakers and topics are selected with the following goals in mind:
When:
Where:
October 23-24 2025
Utah Valley University Grand Ballroom
Virtual attendance is available.
(All sessions will be recorded)
Early Bird rates end: August 1st
Registration Closes: October 17th
Registration
CMHC
Desmond Lomax, CMHC, integrates over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and corrections with a deep commitment to clinical mental health. At the Utah Department of Corrections, he expanded access to therapy for individuals on probation and parole, emphasizing trauma-informed care and systemic change. Now a mental health advocate, keynote speaker, and former adjunct professor in forensic social work, Desmond specializes in leadership, conflict resolution, and healing in high-stress environments. His time as president of the Utah Mental Health Counseling Association reflects his dedication to elevating the field. Personally, his wife's cancer journey informs his compassionate, resilience-focused therapeutic approach.
M.D.
Delaney Ruston, M.D., is a Stanford-trained physician, filmmaker, and global mental health advocate. Her personal experiences with her father’s schizophrenia and receiving care in free clinics inspired her to pursue medicine and storytelling. Through her award-winning documentaries—UNLISTED, HIDDEN PICTURES, and the Screenagers series—she tackles urgent mental health topics like teen anxiety, addiction, and global stigma. Her films have sparked dialogue in over 100 countries and been featured by the WHO, TEDx, and NPR. A Fulbright Scholar and published researcher, Dr. Ruston continues to practice primary care for the underserved while advancing mental health awareness from her home in Seattle.
The 2025 speaker lineup was carefully selected to give attendees access to information from a wide variety of professional and educational backgrounds.
We want to thank the individuals and organizations that help make this conference an exceptional place to learn, listen, grow, and better our personal and professional environments.
