October 7–8, 2026 | Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Advancing Systems. Strengthening Communities. Transforming Outcomes.
The Intermountain West Youth Mental Health Symposium convenes health professionals, educators, researchers, and youth-serving leaders committed to improving outcomes for youth and young adults.
Focused on the distinct challenges and opportunities within rural, frontier, and mountain communities, this symposium is designed to move beyond awareness towards advancing evidence-based, trauma-informed practices that strengthen youth mental health systems.
Join Olivia Ahnemann, producer of Academy Award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary films, for a special private screening of a New Mental Wellbeing Documentary.
October 6, 2026 | 7 pm – 9 pm
Center for the Arts
240 S Glenwood St
Jackson, WY 83001
Event Details
Dates
October 7 – 8
Start Time
9:00 am on October 7
End Time
1:30 pm on October 8
To support meaningful participation and connection, attendees are encouraged to plan travel that allows for full engagement across both days.
For the full symposium schedule, please follow this link.
Evening Convening
On October 7, a limited-capacity dinner will be held for registered attendees. This gathering is designed to foster deeper conversation, strengthen relationships, and extend the day’s dialogue in a more intimate setting.
Advance RSVP will be required. Additional details will be shared following registration.
Mocktails
6 pm | Cloudveil Rooftop
Dinner
7 pm – 9 pm | Lupine Room at the Cloudveil
The Cloudveil
112 Center St
Jackson, WY 83001
Symposium Presenters
Dr. Aaron J. Fischer
Dr. Aaron J. Fischer
Associate Professor of Psychology at Utah State University and licensed psychologist with 20+ years of experience. He founded the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative and researches technology-enabled behavioral health, including telehealth and school-based care for rural and underserved communities.
Ralph Fawaz
Ralph Fawaz
Founder and Executive Director of Tele-Hope, a Wyoming nonprofit focused on suicide prevention through connection, belonging, and peer support. He helps young people build community through workshops, curriculum, and research-informed programs that strengthen relationships and advance mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
Dr. Holly Wilcox
Dr. Holly Wilcox
Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention. An internationally recognized researcher, her work focuses on reducing suicide through public health policy, early intervention, community-based programs, and data-driven prevention strategies.
Maggon Osmond, M.S.Ed
Maggon Osmond, M.S.Ed
Community leader, educator, and founder of Kindness Matters EDU with more than 20 years of experience supporting schools and communities. She also serves as Wyoming Representative for Stand4Kind, promoting resilience, connection, mental wellness, and positive organizational culture through education, advocacy, and leadership.
Dr. Zainab Okolo
Dr. Zainab Okolo, LCMFT
As Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations at The Jed Foundation (JED), she advances policies supporting youth mental health and suicide prevention. A licensed mental health clinician and higher education expert, she advocates for stronger mental health services, programs, and systems that help young people thrive.
Ian Fletcher
Ian Fletcher
Ph.D. candidate in Economics at the University of Wyoming whose research examines behavioral decision-making in prevention. He serves as Co-Director and Vice President of Tele-Hope, helping expand youth suicide prevention programs and connection-building workshops that have reached more than 6,000 young people nationwide.
Alex Banayan
Alex Banayan
International bestselling author, founder of the Possibility Festival, and director of Coming Alive: The Call to Connection. His work explores the power of human connection to improve mental wellbeing, bringing together storytelling, research, and collaboration to inspire meaningful change for young people.
Carson Domey
Carson Domey
Executive Director of the Coalition for Student Wellbeing, where he mobilizes student leaders to advance campus wellbeing policies nationwide. He has supported state and federal mental health initiatives and is pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman
Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman
Senior Vice President of Research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, leading research, education, and advocacy initiatives. A clinician and researcher with 40 years of experience, she has published more than 130 scholarly works and trained clinicians nationwide.
Craig Barringer, M.Ed.
Craig Barringer, M.Ed.
Brings more than 40 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and Deputy Superintendent for Montana's Office of Public Instruction. His leadership, coaching, and commitment to student wellbeing have shaped a lifelong dedication to supporting students' academic, emotional, and social success.
Dr. Derrick Hull
Dr. Derrick Hull
Clinical psychologist, researcher, and technologist specializing in AI for mental health. Previously held R&D roles at Talkspace, Noom, and Mindbloom. Published in Nature, PNAS, and JAMA, with research focused on AI-mediated mental health interventions, psychotherapy, mechanisms of change, and real-world evidence.
Shaylan Wilson
Shaylan Wilson
A Master of Social Work student at Colorado State University Pueblo, she is committed to advancing educational equity, mental health access, and criminal justice reform for underserved communities, particularly Black and Brown youth. Her leadership spans student government, advocacy, mentoring, and community engagement, with a focus on creating meaningful opportunities.
Matt Kuntz JD, MHA
Matt Kuntz JD, MHA
Executive Director of NAMI Montana, he became a mental health advocate after losing his stepbrother to suicide following combat deployment. His leadership has advanced state and federal mental health legislation while expanding evidence-based suicide prevention programs to more than 30 Montana schools, reaching thousands of students.
Deb Mahan
Deb Mahan
With over 30 years of leadership experience, she advances mental health and systemic change through collaboration, advocacy, and philanthropy. As Vice President of Collaboration and Advocacy at Mindful Philanthropy, she brings together funders, policymakers, and community leaders to develop innovative solutions and drive lasting improvements in mental health and well-being.
Rebecca Bagley
Rebecca Bagley
As President & CEO of The Kennedy Forum, she advances mental health as essential health and works toward ambitious national goals. With 30+ years of experience spanning healthcare, academia, finance, and innovation, she has built partnerships that drive research, policy, investment, and systemic change.
Lilly Lutz
Lilly Lutz
A freshman at Utah State University majoring in Political Science, with minors in Economics and American Sign Language, she has six years of experience in suicide and substance abuse prevention advocacy. She hopes to advance prevention through policy and legislative work, while enjoying wrestling, baseball, photography, baking, and camping.
Dr. Katie Azevedo
Dr. Katie Azevedo
Founder and President of Azevedo Consulting and Results Learning Center, she helps schools build safe, supportive, sustainable systems that improve student outcomes. With over 20 years as a teacher, coach, state leader, and consultant, she strengthens school climate, expands mental health systems, and empowers educators to build thriving classrooms.
Dr. Jonah DeChants
Dr. Jonah DeChants
A Senior Research Scientist at The Trevor Project, he earned his Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Denver and was a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University. His research uses community-based methods to study resilience and service needs among LGBTQ young adults experiencing homelessness, drawing on prior work in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Jim Cowser, LCSW
Jim Cowser, LCSW
A mental health and substance use treatment leader, he serves as CEO of Central Wyoming Counseling Center. With decades of experience, he has supported rural opioid response efforts across 10 states, coordinated prevention, treatment, and harm reduction initiatives, and expanded peer support services across healthcare, corrections, and public health.
Morgan Seiler, M.Ed., Ed.S.
Morgan Seiler, M.Ed., Ed.S.
Serves as Senior Physician Relations Representative for the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado, supporting provider education and community partnerships. Her career spans clinical counseling, Colorado state government, and SAMHSA federal policy work, grounded in equity-centered, trauma-informed approaches to expanding youth mental health access statewide.
Dave Hersh
Dave Hersh
Founder and CEO of In Tandem, an organization making it safe, easy and effective to engage young people in decisions affecting them. Previously CEO of Character Lab, Director of Harvard's Proving Ground project, Strategic Data Project Fellow, school district CFO, Deputy Attorney General and Math Teacher. Holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Rutgers, a J.D. from Temple, and a BA in Mathematics.
Sam Kaiser
Sam Kaiser
A Laramie native studying Political Science and International Studies at UW, he serves as ASUW President. Deeply committed to student wellness, he leads Movember men's mental health programming, supports "No More Empty Saddles," and helps build "Wellness in the West"—before eventually pursuing law school and Foreign Service diplomacy.
Amanda Roberts
Amanda Roberts
Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling, Amanda serves as a counseling intern at Montana State University Billings' Student Health Services, working with students through life transitions, academic stress, and mental health challenges, fostering a welcoming space where clients feel heard and empowered.
Brooke Taylor
Brooke Taylor
A senior at Idaho State University studying Healthcare Administration and Business on the pre-law track, she focuses on student mental health, belonging, and advocacy. Through ASISU leadership and library outreach, she's built community-centered programming. She now interns with Idaho National Laboratory's Student Programs, supporting fellow interns as they adjust to Idaho.
Olivia Ahnemann
Olivia Ahnemann
A producer of the Academy Award-nominated Porcelain War (Sundance 2024 Grand Jury Prize), with over two decades crafting bold documentaries, including The Dark Wizard, Youth v Gov, Under the Gun, Racing Extinction, and The Cove. Emmy-nominated and a former Documentary Producer Alliance board member, championing character-driven films that illuminate global crises.
Dr. Aaron J. Fischer
Dr. Aaron J. Fischer
Associate Professor of Psychology at Utah State University and licensed psychologist with 20+ years of experience. He founded the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative and researches technology-enabled behavioral health, including telehealth and school-based care for rural and underserved communities.
Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman
Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman
Senior Vice President of Research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, leading research, education, and advocacy initiatives. A clinician and researcher with 40 years of experience, she has published more than 130 scholarly works and trained clinicians nationwide.
Dr. Zainab Okolo
Dr. Zainab Okolo, LCMFT
As Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations at The Jed Foundation (JED), she advances policies supporting youth mental health and suicide prevention. A licensed mental health clinician and higher education expert, she advocates for stronger mental health services, programs, and systems that help young people thrive.
Dr. Holly Wilcox
Dr. Holly Wilcox
Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention. An internationally recognized researcher, her work focuses on reducing suicide through public health policy, early intervention, community-based programs, and data-driven prevention strategies.
Ralph Fawaz
Ralph Fawaz
Founder and Executive Director of Tele-Hope, a Wyoming nonprofit focused on suicide prevention through connection, belonging, and peer support. He helps young people build community through workshops, curriculum, and research-informed programs that strengthen relationships and advance mental health and suicide prevention efforts.
Matt Kuntz JD, MHA
Matt Kuntz JD, MHA
Executive Director of NAMI Montana, he became a mental health advocate after losing his stepbrother to suicide following combat deployment. His leadership has advanced state and federal mental health legislation while expanding evidence-based suicide prevention programs to more than 30 Montana schools, reaching thousands of students.
Carson Domey
Carson Domey
Executive Director of the Coalition for Student Wellbeing, where he mobilizes student leaders to advance campus wellbeing policies nationwide. He has supported state and federal mental health initiatives and is pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
Ian Fletcher
Ian Fletcher
Ph.D. candidate in Economics at the University of Wyoming whose research examines behavioral decision-making in prevention. He serves as Co-Director and Vice President of Tele-Hope, helping expand youth suicide prevention programs and connection-building workshops that have reached more than 6,000 young people nationwide.
Maggon Osmond, M.S.Ed
Maggon Osmond, M.S.Ed
Community leader, educator, and founder of Kindness Matters EDU with more than 20 years of experience supporting schools and communities. She also serves as Wyoming Representative for Stand4Kind, promoting resilience, connection, mental wellness, and positive organizational culture through education, advocacy, and leadership.
Craig Barringer, M. Ed.
Craig Barringer, M. Ed.
Brings more than 40 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and Deputy Superintendent for Montana's Office of Public Instruction. His leadership, coaching, and commitment to student wellbeing have shaped a lifelong dedication to supporting students' academic, emotional, and social success.
Morgan Seiler, M.Ed., Ed.S.
Morgan Seiler, M.Ed., Ed.S.
Serves as Senior Physician Relations Representative for the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado, supporting provider education and community partnerships. Her career spans clinical counseling, Colorado state government, and SAMHSA federal policy work, grounded in equity-centered, trauma-informed approaches to expanding youth mental health access statewide.
Dr. Derrick Hull
Dr. Derrick Hull
Clinical psychologist, researcher, and technologist specializing in AI for mental health. Previously held R&D roles at Talkspace, Noom, and Mindbloom. Published in Nature, PNAS, and JAMA, with research focused on AI-mediated mental health interventions, psychotherapy, mechanisms of change, and real-world evidence.
Alex Banayan
Alex Banayan
International bestselling author, founder of the Possibility Festival, and director of Coming Alive: The Call to Connection. His work explores the power of human connection to improve mental wellbeing, bringing together storytelling, research, and collaboration to inspire meaningful change for young people.
Deb Mahan
Deb Mahan
With over 30 years of leadership experience, she advances mental health and systemic change through collaboration, advocacy, and philanthropy. As Vice President of Collaboration and Advocacy at Mindful Philanthropy, she brings together funders, policymakers, and community leaders to develop solutions and drive lasting improvements in mental health.
Dr. Jonah DeChants
Dr. Jonah DeChants
A Senior Research Scientist at The Trevor Project, he earned his Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Denver and was a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University. His research uses community-based methods to study resilience and service needs among LGBTQ young adults experiencing homelessness, drawing on prior work in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Rebecca Bagley
Rebecca Bagley
As President & CEO of The Kennedy Forum, she advances mental health as essential health and works toward ambitious national goals. With 30+ years of experience spanning healthcare, academia, finance, and innovation, she has built partnerships that drive research, policy, investment, and systemic change.
Jim Cowser, LCSW
Jim Cowser, LCSW
A mental health and substance use treatment leader, he serves as CEO of Central Wyoming Counseling Center. With decades of experience, he has supported rural opioid response efforts across 10 states, coordinated prevention, treatment, and harm reduction initiatives, and expanded peer support services across healthcare, corrections, and public health.
Dr. Katie Azevedo
Dr. Katie Azevedo
Founder and President of Azevedo Consulting and Results Learning Center, she helps schools build safe, supportive, sustainable systems that improve student outcomes. With over 20 years as a teacher, coach, state leader, and consultant, she strengthens school climate, expands mental health systems, and empowers educators to build thriving classrooms.
Olivia Ahnemann
Olivia Ahnemann
A producer of the Academy Award-nominated Porcelain War (Sundance 2024 Grand Jury Prize), with over two decades crafting bold documentaries, including The Dark Wizard, Youth v Gov, Under the Gun, Racing Extinction, and The Cove. Emmy-nominated and a former Documentary Producer Alliance board member, championing character-driven films that illuminate global crises.
Dave Hersh
Dave Hersh
Founder and CEO of In Tandem, an organization making it safe, easy and effective to engage young people in decisions affecting them. Previously CEO of Character Lab, Director of Harvard's Proving Ground project, Strategic Data Project Fellow, school district CFO, Deputy Attorney General and Math Teacher. Holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Rutgers, a J.D. from Temple, and a BA in Mathematics.
Sam Kaiser
Sam Kaiser
A Laramie native studying Political Science and International Studies at UW, he serves as ASUW President. Deeply committed to student wellness, he leads Movember men's mental health programming, supports "No More Empty Saddles," and helps build "Wellness in the West"—before eventually pursuing law school and Foreign Service diplomacy.
Shaylan Wilson
Shaylan Wilson
A Master of Social Work student at Colorado State University Pueblo, she is committed to advancing educational equity, mental health access, and criminal justice reform for underserved communities, particularly Black and Brown youth. Her leadership spans student government, advocacy, mentoring, and community engagement, focused on creating meaningful opportunities.
Lilly Lutz
Lilly Lutz
A freshman at Utah State University majoring in Political Science, with minors in Economics and American Sign Language, she has six years of experience in suicide and substance abuse prevention advocacy. She hopes to advance prevention through policy and legislative work, while enjoying wrestling, baseball, photography, baking, and camping.
Amanda Roberts
Amanda Roberts
Currently pursuing a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling, Amanda serves as a counseling intern at Montana State University Billings' Student Health Services, working with students through life transitions, academic stress, and mental health challenges, fostering a welcoming space where clients feel heard and empowered.
Brooke Taylor
Brooke Taylor
A senior at Idaho State University studying Healthcare Administration and Business on the pre-law track, she focuses on student mental health, belonging, and advocacy. Through ASISU leadership and library outreach, she's built community-centered programming. She now interns with Idaho National Laboratory's Student Programs, supporting fellow interns as they adjust to Idaho.
Why This Symposium Matters
Youth mental health systems across the Intermountain West (Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah) face increasing demand, workforce shortages, and geographic barriers to care. Addressing these challenges requires more than isolated solutions—it requires collaboration across sectors, shared learning, and actionable strategies.
This symposium creates space for that work.
Attendees will engage with regional and national leaders to explore:
- Emerging research and data shaping the field
- Scalable, community-based prevention strategies
- Innovations in treatment and crisis response
- Cross-sector partnerships driving measurable impact
Who Should Attend
- Healthcare providers and mental health professionals
- K–12 and higher education leaders
- Researchers and policy advocates
- Nonprofit and community-based organizations
- Youth-serving professionals across sectors
- Clinical Psychologists
Why This Symposium Matters
Youth mental health systems across the Intermountain West (Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, and Utah) face increasing demand, workforce shortages, and geographic barriers to care. Addressing these challenges requires more than isolated solutions—it requires collaboration across sectors, shared learning, and actionable strategies.
This symposium creates space for that work.
Attendees will engage with regional and national leaders to explore:
- Emerging research and data shaping the field
- Scalable, community-based prevention strategies
- Innovations in treatment and crisis response
- Cross-sector partnerships driving measurable impact
Who Should Attend
Healthcare providers and mental health professionals
K–12 and higher education leaders
Researchers and policy advocates
Nonprofit and community-based organizations
Youth-serving professionals across sectors
Clinical Psychologist
Accommodations
SpringHill Suites Marriott
SpringHill Suites is the closest hotel to the symposium, located just across the street from the Center for the Arts (the symposium venue). While our discounted room block with SpringHill has closed, rooms may still be available at their standard rate — book directly through their general reservations link below.
Mountain Modern
Guests can call Mountain Modern directly at 307-733-4340, ext. 1, and mention the Ortus Foundation room block and their stay dates. Their agents will book the reservation and provide confirmation.
Guests can also go to the below online booking link to receive the same discount.
Please note, this is not the general Mountain Modern website, but a unique link for your room block.
Hosted by Ortus Foundation
Ortus Foundation works at the intersection of systems, strategy, and early intervention to address youth mental health at its source. By aligning capital, expertise, and partnerships, Ortus advances solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and rooted in community need.
This symposium reflects that commitment—bringing together those doing the work to accelerate progress where it’s needed most.
Symposium Speakers
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