Events

The 3rd Annual Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness

Please save the date for the 3rd Annual Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness, December 5 – 7, 2022, to take place virtually and in Philadelphia, PA, at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

This year, the Summit's theme is increasing access to community-based mental health care in order to decriminalize mental illness. Highlights of the three days include:

Day 1 – Access to Care: 988 Update

Is 988 working? A national overview of 988 and its first five months of operation, with an in-depth look at 988 in the city of Philadelphia followed by Pechakucha presentations about implementation efforts in local communities.

Day 2 – Access to Care: Diverse Strategies and Innovative Ideas

What is essential to decriminalize mental illness? A day to collaborate and investigate through discussion, interactive workshops, and experiential learning–including the essential ingredients to increasing access to care in communities.

Day 3 – Access to Care: Reframing the Conversation

Can we move beyond traditional destigmatization campaigns in order to reframe mental illness and elevate perceptions of psychiatry? This half-day interactive workshop will be led by GREY—a global advertising agency—and will address deep-seated heuristics and cultural behaviors around mental illness and psychiatry in order to evoke empathy and change the conversation.

More details and registration information about the 2022 Summit will be released soon. In the meantime, view recordings from the 2021 Summit, or the short recap video.

We gladly welcome your ideas for Summit topics, speakers, or any other input you may wish to share. Please submit your suggestions by emailing [email protected].

There is no registration fee for the Summit. For those requiring financial assistance with lodging and travel expenses, a small number scholarships are available. More information will be available when registration for the Summit opens in September.

Recordings from the 2020 Inaugural Sozosei Summit are available here.
Recordings from the 2021 Sozosei Summit are available here.

December 5, 2022 — December 7, 2022

Past Events

The 2nd Annual Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness

The 2nd Annual Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness was held from December 13-15, 2021 in Philadelphia, PA. A global event, the Summit brings together experts, thought-leaders, people with lived experience, doctors, lawyers, judges, advocates, artists, and funders to collaborate, create, and explore pathways to decriminalize mental illness.

Learn more

"A Brief History of the Criminalization of Mental Illness" A Virtual Book Club

June 4, 2021

On June 4, 2021, the Sozosei Foundation hosted a virtual book club featuring authors and renowned psychologist, Dr. Joel Dvoskin and renowned psychiatrist, Dr. James Knoll in conversation with Sozosei Board Member Mary Chi Michael, about their chapter, “A Brief History of the Criminalization of Mental Illness” from the recently released book, “Decriminalizing Mental Illness,” published by Cambridge University Press.

Learn more

Global Solutions Lab

May 7, 2021

Mental illness is an area that has been relatively underfunded by philanthropy when compared to the immense potential for impact. The Sozosei Foundation is helping reignite energy and push the philanthropic community in this area, with a specific focus on decriminalizing mental illness in America. The Foundation recently kicked off a series of Global Solution Labs to surface more knowledge and perspectives about how to create a future where mental illness is not treated as a crime.

Learn more