2022 Sozosei Summit Logo

Tom Insel, MD, Executive Chair of Vanna Health and former head of the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) said, “The Sozosei Summit brings together an incredibly diverse and robust group of people to forward the movement to decriminalize mental illness.”

PRINCETON, N.J. (PRWEB)
November 18, 2022

The Sozosei Foundation will hold its 3rd Annual Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness, December 5 to 7, 2022, in the Summit’s home city of Philadelphia, PA, at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Within a month of opening registration for the Summit, in-person participation is at capacity. The Summit is a much-anticipated event for the field blending creativity, thought-provoking conversation, and experiential learning in order to accelerate the decriminalization of mental illness. A global and diverse audience comes together during the three-day event including thought leaders, people with lived experience, medical professionals, lawyers, judges, advocates, artists, and funders all working to build a world where mental illness is not a crime.

Tom Insel, MD, executive chair of Vanna Health and former head of the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) said, “The Sozosei Summit brings together an incredibly diverse and robust group of people to forward the movement to decriminalize mental illness. Last year’s Summit was a ground-breaking event that sparked tremendous momentum to address this critical issue. I am honored to once again be a part of an event that amplifies the voices of so many and challenges us all to think creatively to pursue real and lasting change.”

Featuring more than 50 speakers and panelists, including Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for civil rights for the United States Department of Justice; Patrick Kennedy, former U.S. representative (D-RI) and founder of The Kennedy Forum; Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism and Effortless, and Zak Williams, son of the late Robin Williams and noted mental health advocate, the Summit will be live streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

Douglas Reed, director of partnerships and engagement at Black Men Heal and the host of the Let’s Go Showpodcast, said, “I’m honored to be part of the 2022 Sozosei Summit. Last year’s Summit highlighted the stories of those with real-life experience and surfaced great insights into addressing key issues to decriminalize mental illness. Real change happens when people of all backgrounds take the time to listen to one another and work together to solve problems.”

Mental illness is not a crime. Jails and prisons cannot continue to be the nation’s largest mental health care providers. Together, we can identify solutions that will increase access to mental health care in communities.

See the complete list of speakers and register at SozoseiSummit.org.

###

ABOUT THE SOZOSEI FOUNDATION

The Sozosei Foundation was established in 2019 as a philanthropic arm of Otsuka. The name Sozosei means “creativity” in Japanese. Our Japanese heritage is manifest in our fundamental values and day-to-day operations. The mission of the Sozosei Foundation is to be a catalyst for ideas that nurture creative solutions for healthier communities. Our primary focus is to eliminate the use of jails and prisons for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness by improving access to mental health care in communities across the nation. In addition to our focus on the decriminalization of mental illness, the Sozosei Foundation supports efforts to build resilient, healthy, and vibrant communities in Stockton, California; City of Baltimore, Maryland; and Camden, Newark, Patterson, and Trenton, New Jersey. It also engages in disaster relief and recovery in places around the world where Otsuka has a presence.

Share article on social media or email: