Mountains & Minds: A Mental Health Summit to Strengthen Community

Mountains & Minds: A Mental Health Summit to Strengthen Community

Demand is increasing for mental and behavioral health services in Colorado’s mountain towns and across the country. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 5 adults in America experience mental illness every year. Even more concerning, over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.

Presented in partnership by the Vail Symposium, Benj Gershman (O.A.R., What Could Be Bad podcast), and the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC), Mountains & Minds is a mental health summit that aims to strengthen community by elevating and destigmatizing mental health conversations. The event will be held September 13-14, 2024, at the VPAC in Beaver Creek.

Mountains & Minds is presented with additional support from community mental and behavioral health-focused organizations including Vail Health Behavioral Health, Mountain Pride, SpeakUp ReachOut, Early Childhood Partners, Mountain Youth, Your Hope Center, RECONNECTED and Bright Future Foundation.

OVERVIEW

Friday, September 13
Cocktail Reception, Dinner and Presentation. 5:30pm onstage at the VPAC. Dinner curated by Adam Bornstein, focused on the connection between nutrition and mental health, featuring local mental and behavioral health providers alongside community voices. Schedule:

5:30pm – Cocktail Reception in VPAC Lobby 
6:30pm – Dinner Onstage – Meal curated by Adam Bornstein, catered by Alpine + Antlers 
7:30pm – The Connection of Nutrition & Mental Health keynote remarks with Adam Bornstein 
8:00pm – Elevating & De-stigmatizing Mental Health Conversations panel discussion with Adam Bornstein, Chef Robert Irvine, Dr. Paige Baker-Braxton (Vail Health Behavioral Health) and additional guests to be announced

Saturday, September 14
Breakfast for Active US Military, Veterans and First Responders. 8:00am in Beaver Creek Village. Chef Robert Irvine and The Robert Irvine Foundation bring the Breaking Bread with Heroes program to Mountains & Minds by providing a meal to local heroes in recognition of their contributions. Must be an Eagle County resident. Free of charge, RSVP required

If you are interested in supporting the event as a sponsor or underwriter, please email Cameron Morgan at cmorgan@vvf.org.

Scholarship tickets may be available. Please contact Megan McGee Bonta at mbonta@vailsymposium.org for more information.