Addison Trail students attend NAMI Illinois State Conference to learn about mental health topics

On Oct. 23 and 24, five members of Addison Trail’s NAMI on Campus club participated in the 2026 NAMI Illinois State Conference, where they learned about a variety of mental health topics.

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The event took place at Benedictine University in Lisle, and this year’s theme was “Bridging Gaps by Reimagining Community Care.” The conference featured 40 breakout sessions, a keynote address focused on AI and mental health (presented by Dr. John Torous with Harvard Medical School and Sherin Khan with Thresholds), and meaningful opportunities to connect and network. For more information, go to https://namiillinois.org.

Addison Trail junior Juliana Osornio, who is Vice President of the school’s NAMI on Campus club, also served as a member of the NAMI on Campus panel during the conference.

The students shared the following regarding their experience.

Julio Navarrete, Addison Trail senior:
“The conference was very intriguing and very informative. I was able to learn techniques on how I can calm myself down and relieve my stress. My leadership team and I also had the opportunity to go to many sessions, and the keynote speaker presented about the dangers of AI to mental health. We learned how although AI is helpful for data and statistics, it cannot fully replace a human connection and cannot be used as a therapist or a way of coping. Overall, the conference educated us on a lot of things that we can then educate Addison Trail about.”

Emily Canales, Addison Trail senior:
“I really enjoyed being able to collaborate with my peers in a workspace designated for discussions surrounding topics of mental health. It was really eye opening and led to many new and great ideas that I would love to bring back to our NAMI on Campus club at school. It was such a great opportunity to hear what talented and knowledgeable people had to say about numerous topics such as AI and mental health and to learn from different perspectives. I’m excited to use what I learned to help encourage more meaningful discussions and bring new ideas and resources to our club!”

Sarah Charles, Addison Trail junior:
“The NAMI conference was an amazing experience! It was a great way to connect with my friends while learning about NAMI’s supportive resources, strategies for balancing emotions and the impact of AI on mental health. I’m so glad I went, and I can’t wait to share the things I’ve learned with our club!”

NAMI stands for National Alliance on Mental Illness, a nationwide mental health advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people affected by mental illnesses. The focus of Addison Trail’s NAMI on Campus club is to enhance awareness and understanding of mental illness and to connect students with resources and supports to help ensure their well-being. For questions or more information, contact Addison Trail NAMI on Campus Adviser Jessica Clark at jclark@dupage88.net.