The Melissa Institute Announces 30th Anniversary Conference:From Prevention to Healing: Research-Based Solutions to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis in America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Natalie Holder, Office Manager & Communications Coordinator
The Melissa Institute
(833) 448-3864 | info@melissainstitute.org
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The Melissa Institute Announces 30th Anniversary Conference: From Prevention to Healing: Research-Based Solutions to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis in America

Coral Gables, Fl. (April 2026)

As the youth mental health crisis continues to demand urgent attention across the nation, The Melissa Institute is marking a landmark milestone and rising to the challenge. The nationally recognized nonprofit, dedicated to preventing violence and promoting safe, resilient communities, will host its 30th Anniversary Virtual Conference, From Prevention to Healing: Research-Based Solutions to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis in America, on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET via Zoom.

This milestone full-day virtual event assembles a distinguished panel of nationally acclaimed scholars and practitioners in psychology and mental health. The conference will equip mental health professionals, psychologists, educators, school personnel, health and human service providers, researchers, community leaders, and policymakers with evidence-based strategies to prevent and treat anxiety, depression, trauma-related distress, and suicide risk in children and adolescents.

“This conference reflects thirty years of unwavering commitment to translating rigorous science into practical tools that strengthen families, schools, and communities,” said Dr. Etiony Aldarondo, Executive Director of The Melissa Institute. “As we mark this anniversary, we are bringing together the very best minds in the field to help practitioners and communities meet this moment.”

The conference will feature four leading voices in youth mental health research.

Wendy K. Silverman, Ph.D., ABPP, Alfred A. Messer Professor of Child Psychiatry and Professor of Psychology; Director, Yale Child Study Center Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program, Yale University School of Medicine, will present on preventing and treating anxiety disorders.

Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., ABPP, Senior Science Advisor for the American Psychological Association and Distinguished Professor at UNC Chapel Hill, will address the impact of digital culture on belonging and youth mental health.

Annette M. La Greca, Ph.D., ABPP, Distinguished Professor at the University of Miami, will lead a session on coping and recovery following stress and trauma.

Sherry Hamby, Ph.D., Research Professor of Psychology at the University of the South, will close with a focus on building resilience and strengthening protective factors.

Each session will be followed by a facilitated discussion panel including Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D., founding Scientific Director of The Melissa Institute and co-founder of modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as Dr. Aldarondo, Executive Director of The Melissa Institute.

General Registration for the conference is free and open to the public. Continuing education credits are available for psychologists, mental health professionals, educators, licensed clinical social workers, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed marriage and family therapists at a cost of $60 USD. The program is approved by the American Psychological Association. Reserve your spot by visiting: https://melissainstitute.org/30thannualconference/

In addition to the annual conferences, The Melissa Institute offers free year-round trainings for parents, educators, and school staff on violence prevention and youth well-being, available both virtually and in person. For more information, email info@melissainstitute.org. To access information about the Institute’s free resources, visit the TMI Link Library: https://linktr.ee/themelissainstitute

About The Melissa Institute

The Melissa Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 65-0683088) dedicated to preventing violence and promoting safe, resilient communities through research, education, consultation, and community support.