15th Annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit | Mission Resilience: Navigating Trauma

Registration Open for 15th Annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit

Wilmington, Del. – The Mental Health Association in Delaware (MHA) will host the 15th Annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, from 8am to 4pm. The event will be held at Dupont Country Club, located at 1001 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Del. 19803. Event registration is just $5, and scholarships are available.

MHA hosts this event each year to bring together Delaware’s community of veterans and military servicemembers to discuss the topics of mental health and suicide prevention.

Across branches and backgrounds, many servicemembers and veterans are navigating the lasting impact of trauma – often silently. While bravery and endurance are hallmarks of military culture, they can discourage individuals from seeking support for mental health needs. This summit aims to change that narrative. By bringing together military servicemembers, veterans, family members, mental health professionals, and community advocates, the event shines a light on the tools, stories, and strategies that help individuals and communities heal.

This year’s event focuses on the theme of “Mission Resilience: Navigating Trauma” and features a wide array of speakers from the military and veteran communities. Our keynote speaker, retired Chief Warrant Officer Michael Tapp, will speak about resilience, drawing from his 27-year career with the US Coast Guard and work as a crisis intervention and stress management peer. Presentations, panels, and breakout sessions will follow, delving into topics including community mobilization, PTSD, moral injury, military sexual trauma, peer-to-peer support, practical strategies for engaging veterans, and stories from veterans.

MHA will be raffling off prizes to participants throughout the day. People who bring canned good(s) will receive a raffle ticket to win these prizes.

MHA will offer two (2) continuing education (CE) credit hours to those that attend specific breakout sessions. The CEs are accredited and approved by the National Association of Social Workers Delaware (NASW-DE).

Registration can be completed here: https://www.eventzilla.net/e/2025-military-amp-veterans-mental-health-summit-2138659619. To request a scholarship, email Jennifer Smolowitz at jsmolowitz@mhainde.org. Registration closes Sept. 9, 2025.

The Wilmington VA Medical Center will be providing free shuttle transportation for veterans to and from the Summit. The shuttle will begin boarding at the Main Entrance Circle at 7:00am on Sept. 16, and will leave the VA Medical Center at 7:15am. The shuttle will return to pick up passengers at the conclusion of the summit. No shuttles will be available during the day. Seats are limited and reservations are required. To reserve a seat on the shuttle, please email Joey Damiano at Anthony.damiano@va.gov.

Summit planning is a collaborative effort between MHA, the US Dept. of Veteran Affairs and Wilmington VA Medical Center, the Delaware National Guard, regional and national agencies serving veterans, soldiers, and their families.

The event is sponsored by MHA, US Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Wilmington VA Medical Center, Acadia Service Resiliency Unit (SRU), Wawa Foundation, Rockford Center, Dover Behavioral Health System, Meadowwood Hospital, SUN Behavioral Delaware, Banyan Treatment Centers, Humana Military, NET Centers/Kirkwood Detox, Sanare, AttackAddiction, Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, Inc., Wilmington University, the Recovery Village at Cherry Hill, and Newport Academy.

The Mental Health Association in Delaware is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency with a mission to strengthen knowledge, resources, and support around mental health and recovery. More information can be found at www.mhainde.org.