ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) will hold its 5th Annual Psychiatric Mental Health Summit on September 26 at its campus in St. Augustine, Florida, with an option for virtual attendance. This year's summit, themed "From Learning to Leading: Six Pillars of Mental Health in Healthcare Culture," aims to unite healthcare professionals and students from rehabilitative health sciences programs to discuss strategies for enhancing mental health awareness and fostering healthier environments in academic and clinical settings.
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The event is particularly timely as nearly half of health workers frequently report feelings of burnout, and about one in four experiences symptoms of mental illness or acute stress. With the increasing demand for mental health services, 84% of primary care providers acknowledge their essential role in providing mental and behavioral health treatment, although only 56% feel adequately trained to do so. The summit aims to address these gaps.
Alberto Salmoiraghi, MB, ChB, MRCPsych, the featured industry expert, noted, "Healthcare professionals are often required to offer high-quality mental health services while managing their own stress and burnout, and this summit is built to help them do both. Our goal is to give attendees strategies they can use immediately."
Sessions will cover the summit's six pillars, focusing on areas such as mental health awareness, emotional intelligence, resource access, and overall wellness.
Lori Hankins, St. Augustine Campus Director and Director of Continuing Professional Education at USAHS, emphasized the importance of the summit: "Each year, this summit gives our community a dedicated space to move mental health conversations forward, and that work matters more with each passing year. Bringing together practicing professionals and the students who will soon join them creates a shared foundation for building healthier healthcare environments."
The summit is open to a variety of healthcare professionals including registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, licensed clinical social workers, and other mental health professionals, as well as healthcare students. Attendees can earn 6.5 contact hours and 0.65 continuing education units.
USAHS, accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation and by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), remains committed to advancing mental health knowledge in the healthcare industry. Those interested in attending, whether in person or virtually, can register through the USAHS website.
About the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences: Founded in 1979, USAHS is a graduate institution committed to educating and inspiring future health sciences practitioners. It offers graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, and Doctor of Education, alongside continuing education opportunities. The university, which has five campuses across California, Florida, and Texas, is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.