ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), a leading institution for graduate health sciences education, will host its 5th Annual Psychiatric Mental Health Summit on Sept. 26 at its St. Augustine, FL campus, with a virtual attendance option also available. This year’s summit, themed “From Learning to Leading: Six Pillars of Mental Health in Healthcare Culture,” will bring together healthcare professionals across disciplines and students in rehabilitative health sciences programs. Attendees will explore practical strategies, best practices and leadership approaches for strengthening mental health awareness and creating healthier academic, clinical, and professional environments.

With mental health continuing to shape both clinical outcomes and workplace culture across the healthcare industry, the summit offers concrete tools for leading positive change. The event arrives as mental health challenges continue to weigh on health workers and the patients they serve: Nearly half of health workers report feeling burned out often or very often, while roughly one in four report symptoms of mental illness or acute distress.

At the same time, the public need for mental health services is increasing. Eighty-four percent of primary care providers say they must play an essential role in meeting rising demand for mental and behavioral health treatment, but only 56% of those providers say they feel properly trained in this regard. USAHS designed this year’s summit to help close the gap.

“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,” said Alberto Salmoiraghi, MB, ChB, MRCPsych, the summit’s featured industry expert. “Our goal is to give attendees strategies they can use immediately.”

Throughout the day, sessions will guide attendees through the summit’s six pillars, covering mental health awareness, emotional intelligence, resource access and wellness within clinical and academic settings.

“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,” said Lori Hankins, St. Augustine Campus Director and Director of Continuing Professional Education at USAHS. “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 registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, licensed clinical social workers, and other behavioral and mental health professionals, as well as current and prospective healthcare students preparing for careers in nursing and behavioral health. Now in its fifth year, the summit reflects USAHS’s sustained commitment to advancing mental health knowledge across the industry.

Attendees can earn 6.5 contact hours and 0.65 continuing education units by completing the full program. USAHS is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. It is also accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

Healthcare professionals and students interested in attending, whether in person at USAHS’s St. Augustine campus or virtually, can register here.

About the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution dedicated to educating, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of health sciences practitioners. The University offers graduate level physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing and Doctor of Education as well as continuing education. Founded in 1979, USAHS has a network of five campuses that span three states—California, Florida and Texas—and is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (501) 748-9001, www.wscuc.org. The University is transforming society by instructing tomorrow’s healthcare providers to be skilled, confident and a force for good through its Certified B Corp status. Follow USAHS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok. To learn more, visit: usa.edu/.

Media Contact: Caroline Hansen [chansen@wearecsg.com]


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