2026 Montana Behavioral Health Conference

Conference Overview

The Montana Behavioral Health Conference is sponsored by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) through the Mental Health Block Grant and hosted by NAMI Montana. The Conference is a statewide convening designed to strengthen Montana’s behavioral health system by bringing together people with lived experience, family members, providers, advocates, researchers, and public health leaders in a shared space for learning, connection, and system improvement.

For years, the Conference has served as an accessible and inspiring educational experience for Montanans living with mental health conditions and their families—providing peer-led stories of recovery, practical education, advocacy tools, and exposure to world-class research and emerging treatment methodologies.

In recent years, the Conference has also grown into a crucial venue where DPHHS can engage in facilitated listening and structured feedback with large numbers of Montanans who experience behavioral health challenges and those who care for them—supporting system evaluation, quality improvement, and policy development.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Montana Behavioral Health Conference is to strengthen Montana’s behavioral health system through accessible, peer-centered education and connection, while creating a trusted statewide forum for honest feedback, collaboration, and shared problem-solving among people with lived experience, families, providers, advocates, researchers, and state partners.