The Turning: Black Church and Mental Health Conference

A full day of faith, mental health, speakers, sessions, food & entertainment. $49.99 + fees. Nov 26, Toronto. Reserve your seat today. A full day of learning, connection, food and entertainment — $49.99 + fees Join Black Mental Health Canada for The Turning: Black Church & Mental Health Conference on Thursday, November 26, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport, 970 Dixon Road, Toronto. Your general admission ticket includes a full conference day with keynote speakers, panels, breakout sessions, continental breakfast, plated lunch, a light reception, entertainment and opportunities to connect with faith leaders, mental health professionals and community members. General admission: CA$49.99 before Eventbrite fees. The total including applicable fees is shown at checkout. Reserve your seat today. Put November 26 in your calendar, arrange time away from work if needed, and invite a friend, colleague or someone from your ministry to join you. Come with questions. Leave with ideas and connections. Explore how faith communities and mental health professionals can work together to support the whole person. Hear different perspectives, reflect on the messages we have inherited about mental health, and discover approaches to more informed, compassionate support. • Recognize how spiritual bypassing and stigma can delay care. • Explore trauma, grief, youth mental health and the experiences of Black women. • Discuss pastoral care, mental health first aid and church-based mental health ministries. • Build relationships across faith, clinical care and community support. Meet the speakers Keynote speaker: Dr. Eric M. Brown, Assistant Professor, Mental Health Counselor and Trauma Researcher. Featured speakers include Andrea Boweya; Tresor Kalambay; Dr. Andrew L. Blackwood; Pastor Sandie Thomas; Rev. Dean Richards and Rev. Jacqueline Richards; and Dr. Lynn Murphy. Your day at a glance • 9:30 a.m. — Registration, welcome, networking and continental breakfast • 10:00 a.m. — Opening ceremony and land acknowledgement • 10:30 a.m. — Keynote address: The Turning Moment • 11:30 a.m. — Panel: Spiritual Bypassing & Delayed Care • 12:30 p.m. — Plated lunch and networking • 1:30 p.m. — Choose a breakout: Pastoral Care & Mental Health First Aid; Black Women & Invisible Suffering; or Youth & the Next Generation • 2:30 p.m. — Panel: Faith, Medication & the Stigma of Treatment • 3:30 p.m. — Closing address and community covenant • 4:00 p.m. — Closing networking, light reception and farewell • 4:30 p.m. — Conference closes Entertainment is included in the day. Programme and lineup updates will be shared as details are confirmed. Who should attend? Pastors, elders, ministry leaders, clinicians, therapists, educators, students, people with lived experience, and community members who want to help Black communities heal. You do not need to be a mental health professional to take part. From stigma to support For generations, the Black Church has been a place of strength, survival, prayer and community care. Many people have also carried pain in silence because mental health struggles were misunderstood or treated as a lack of faith. The Turning honours the Church's legacy while opening a compassionate conversation about accountability, reflection and growth. Faith and therapy can work together. Prayer and treatment can coexist. Seeking support does not make anyone less spiritual. Make your plans today. Select Tickets to register for The Turning, and bring someone into the conversation with you.