annual conference

Susan Stearns

Susan Stearns is Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire (National Alliance on Mental Illness). She has worked in the non-profit sector in New Hampshire for over 30 years, advocating for families, children, and individuals with disabilities. Her personal experience advocating for loved ones in both the child and adult mental health systems drives her passion for transforming New Hampshire’s system of care in order to improve the lives of all Granite Staters affected by mental illness and suicide. Susan does this work because no mother’s child should have to fear seeking help for a medical condition because of stigma.

Lori Weaver

Lori Weaver is the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). With more than 25 years of experience with DHHS and a strong focus on working collaboratively across all levels and functions, other state agencies, and external partners, Commissioner Weaver has demonstrated leadership and success in achieving shared organizational goals and objectives.

Governor Kelly Ayotte

As a lifelong Granite Stater, Governor Kelly Ayotte knows we live in the best state in the country to live, work and raise a family, and she will work hard every day to deliver for all of New Hampshire. Governor Ayotte has made strengthening our mental health system a critical pillar of her administration. Under Governor Ayotte’s leadership, New Hampshire fully funded uncompensated care at Community Mental Health Centers and supported Recovery Friendly Workplaces and the Doorways Program. New Hampshire has also secured over $200 million in federal funding to transform rural health care, with strengthening behavioral health services in underserved areas as a key focus for the new GO-NORTH initiative that will distribute this funding.

Hannah Wesolowski

Hannah Wesolowski leads NAMI National’s Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy team, which develops NAMI’s policy positions, advances NAMI’s federal public policy priorities, and supports the policy work of NAMI’s Alliance at the state and local level. Hannah has been a national leader on topics like building a mental health crisis continuum of care since the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022. Hannah serves as a member of NAMI’s Executive Team and is a frequent NAMI spokesperson to the media on mental health policy topics, speaking frequently to outlets like NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC News, and CNN. She serves on the Executive Committee of Friends of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and on the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council and the American Brain Coalition. Hannah has been with NAMI since 2017. Prior to NAMI, she worked for the Public Affairs Council, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Institute of Architects, and New York University. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration from New York University.

Brittany Porter

Join Walk Manager Brittany Porter, for an information session on the 24th Annual NAMIWalks New Hampshire, the Granite State’s largest mental health awareness and suicide prevention event! Hear important updates about the 2026 Walk, listen to inspiring stories, and learn how you can get involved!

Jeff White

Jeffrey White is a father, husband, dog dad, and survivor of suicide loss. In 2017, he lost his 16‑year‑old son, Alec, to suicide. Through this tragedy, he and his family were connected with NAMI NH and its support community. Now an avid supporter of NAMI NH and NAMIWalks NH, a long-time participant in the NAMI NH Survivors of Suicide Loss support group, and a member of the NAMI NH Board of Directors, Jeff has found a renewed purpose in helping others navigate mental health challenges and unimaginable loss.

Lynne Schmidt and Zoë the Service Dog

Lynne Schmidt, LCSW is the grandchild of a Holocaust survivor, and a therapist with a focus in trauma and healing. They obtained their Master of Social Work in 2020 from the University of New England with Trauma Informed and Emotion Focused Therapy-1 Certificates. They are the 2025 Maine Literary Arts Fellow and the author of Dying Dog Poems, The Unaccounted for Circles of Hell, Dead Dog Poems, and Gravity. Lynne presents regularly with state branches of NASW and NAMI on topics related to poetry, mass casualty events, and service dogs.

Pasha Marlowe

Pasha Marlowe holds a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and brings over 30 years of experience as a mental health professional to her work as a global neuroinclusion speaker. She collaborates with organizations and institutions who value neurodiversity and recognize the need for neuroinclusive leadership. Pasha is the author of “Creating Cultures of Neuroinclusion” and has created an actionable R.E.S.P.E.C.T. framework and leadership guide to facilitate conversations based on needs, rather than labels

Jeannie Bass

Jeannie Bass, CPS, is first and foremost a voice hearer and person who lives with other experiences under the “psychosis” umbrella. She is the Director of Peer Support Services at a public sector hospital in Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience providing peer support in clinical and community settings, she brings expertise in meaning centered, relational, and lived experience informed approaches to psychosis. Her personal story, and social justice work have been featured on NBC. She is an HVN-USA trainer and has served on the national Board of Directors for ten years. Jeannie is the co-author of the online Active Learning course Reframing Psychosis Spectrum Experiences, currently available, and the accompanying workbook, forthcoming from Cognella in early 2026.

Carina A. Iati

Carina A. Iati, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in psychosis spectrum experiences and complex trauma. She earned her doctorate from Indiana State University and completed advanced training at the University of Massachusetts Medical School/Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital and Emory University School of Medicine. With a career rooted in public service, Dr. Iati has provided psychological services, including psychotherapy, risk assessment, and clinical program development across the continuum of care. In addition to her clinical training, she is also a certified personal trainer (NASM-PT) and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F). Dr. Iati is co-author of The Psychosis Response Guide: How to Help Young People in Psychiatric Crisis and Reframing Psychosis Spectrum Experiences.

The NAMI NextGen New Hampshire Ambassadors

This session is led by the NAMI NextGen New Hampshire Ambassadors, who have firsthand experience with the emotional demands of advocacy work. Put Your Seatbelt On First focuses on practical strategies advocates can use to care for their own mental health while continuing to support others. The presentation will highlight realistic self-care practices, the importance of boundaries, and the role of reflection in preventing burnout. Throughout the session, we will emphasize the value of community and shared support, offering unique perspectives on how connection and collective care help advocates remain effective and resilient.