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Summer in D.C. gives you plenty of ways to connect with others and support your mental health. You can join trauma healing circles, attend community 5Ks, or learn from local experts at panel talks and workshops. You might need depression support. You might want help with anxiety. You might feel curious about ketamine therapy in Washington, DC. This season’s mental health events in DC give you space to unite, learn, and feel better.
Here, we highlight 12 summer DC-area mental health events you can attend online or in person, including three live ketamine therapy webinars by Avesta Ketamine and Wellness (Avesta).
July Mental Health Events
Teen Self-Care Fair
When: July 18, 2025 | 4-6 pm
Where: Whitman Walker’s Max Robinson Center | Washington, D.C.
RSVP: Email slawson@whitman-walker.org or text 202-321-3303.
Whitman-Walker’s free Self-Care Fair allows teens to unleash their inner artist. Attendees receive creative art therapy sessions led by expert facilitators, with dinner and Metro cards for travel also included. Give yourself the chance to de-stress, connect, and learn how art can be a powerful tool for self-care and healing.
MOORE Equity in Mental Health 5K Run, Walk, or Roll
When: July 19, 2025 | 8 am
Where: In-person with virtual option | Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, MD
Register: Sign up here
The Fifth Annual APA & APAF MOORE Equity in Mental Health 5K, named after mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, promotes collective healing through movement. Proceeds benefit the APA & APAF’s MOORE Equity in Mental Health Community Grants Program, which raises awareness about mental health disparities facing young people of color. If you cannot attend in person, consider participating remotely by completing a walk or run in your community.
Avesta Webinar: Ketamine for Managing Chronic Pain
When: Jul 30, 2025 | 11:30 am
Where: Virtual | Hosted by Avesta Ketamine and Wellness
Register: Sign up here (free)
Avesta’s July webinar explores how ketamine therapy reduces chronic pain and improves overall well-being. You’ll hear from Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, Avesta’s founder and co-CEO, as she explains how ketamine affects the brain and eases conditions like CRPS, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain. You’ll learn why chronic pain often impacts your mood, energy, and mental health—and how ketamine offers a science-backed option when other treatments fall short. If you live with persistent pain, this session helps you understand what psychological and physical relief can look like.
We Gon’ Be Alright: Stress, Self-Care, and Community Support Workshop
When: July 31, 2025 | 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: In-person | Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library | Washington, D.C.
Register: Get tickets here
The Love Catalyst hosts transformative events focused on the mental health needs of the DC community through the lens of popular albums and songs. The We Gon’ Be Alright workshop uses practical strategies to break down mental health stigma and build resilience, focusing on stress management and self-care. In this session, inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s song “Alright,” you will explore ways to bounce back from challenges and maintain mental well-being.
August Mental Health Events
Active Minds Mental Health Conference
When: August 1-2, 2025
Where: In-person | The Capital Hilton | Washington, D.C.
Register: Sign up online
This two-day mental health conference in DC brings together hundreds of young adults who care about mental health and want to create change. Through powerful keynotes, hands-on workshops, and community conversations, you’ll explore topics like self-advocacy, storytelling, and systems change. You’ll also meet peers who understand what it’s like to struggle and still show up for yourself and others. If you’re between 18 and 25 and want to use your voice to change how the world talks about mental health, this is where you’ll feel seen, inspired, and supported.
NAMI DC Peers, Families & Friends Support Group
When: Wednesdays, August 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 | 7-9 pm
Where: Online | Hosted by NAMI
Register: Email supportgroups@namidc.org or call 202-466-0972
NAMI DC’s weekly support groups offer a safe space to talk about your mental health with others who understand what you’re going through. You can show up with family, friends, or caretakers, or come alone. Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition, you’ll find connection, support, and honest conversation. The groups are free, confidential, and open to adults 18 and older living in the DC area.
Community Day Health and Wellness Fair
When: August 11 -13, 2025
Where: In-person | Grand Hyatt Washington | Washington, D.C.
Register: Sign up online (July 22, 2025, deadline)
The National Prevention Network 2025 Conference brings together substance use prevention, mental health, and community wellness professionals. This event is open to clinicians, counselors, educators, coalition leaders, researchers, and policymakers focusing on prevention and public health. You’ll explore the latest research, learn about emerging policy trends, and gain practical tools to support behavioral health in your community. If you work to prevent substance use or promote mental well-being, this conference gives you the knowledge and network to deepen your impact.
Sound Bath in the Tiffany Gallery
When: August 16 & 23, 2025 | 2-3 pm
Where: In-person | Museum of Contemporary Art | Arlington, VA
Register: Get tickets online
Reduce stress and declutter your mind while listening to various instruments at the Tiffany Gallery in the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington. You’ll lie on a yoga mat and bathe in the harmonies of chimes, crystal quartz, and Tibetan sound bowls while Tiffany-stained glass windows glow brilliantly in the afternoon light. Sound baths like this are an excellent way to reduce stress. They trigger the release of feel-good chemicals, dampen pain signals, and bring a sense of relaxation, balance, and well-being.
Avesta Webinar: Spravato™ (Esketamine) – Patient Perspectives
When: August 27, 2025 | 12:30-1:30 pm
Where: Virtual | Hosted by Avesta Ketamine and Wellness
Register: Sign up here (free)
Avesta’s live August webinar explores real patient experiences with Spravato™, an FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. You’ll hear how Spravato fits into care plans, what the treatment feels like, and what kind of relief patients have found. If you’re considering options beyond traditional antidepressants, this session gives you a clear and personal look at what Spravato therapy in Washington, DC, can offer.
September Mental Health Events
International Conference on Positive Psychology & Mental Health
When: September 6-7, 2025
Where: In-person | Washington, DC | Venue, TBD
Register: Sign up online
The Positive Psychology & Mental Health conference, organized by Research Flora, brings together a diverse group of academics, professionals, and practitioners to discuss trends, advancements, and developments in the field. It’s a feel-good event that highlights gratitude practices, emotional resilience, and strength-based mental health approaches to encourage collaboration and progress. Academic and research events like this forum are ideal if you’re looking for scholarly and practitioner networking.
Mental Health Healing Circles – Community Sound Bath (Thoughtful Thursdays)
When: September 11, 2025 | 6:30 pm
Where: Hybla Valley Community Center | Alexandria, VA
Register: Get free tickets here
LAZERA Ministries hosts this in-person monthly sound bath as part of its community mental health healing circles. You’ll experience the calming effects of live sound therapy using gongs, singing bowls, chimes, tuning forks, and voice. The guided session helps reduce stress, ease tension, and restore a sense of inner balance. If you’re navigating trauma, burnout, or everyday overwhelm, this meditative space gives you a gentle way to reconnect with your body and support your mental health.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Webinar: Community Capacity Building
When: September 24, 2025 | 12:30-1:30 PM
Where: Online | Hosted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Register: Sign up online
In this training session, you’ll learn strategies to support people living with serious mental illness. The 90-minute webinar uses lectures, case studies, and group exercises to increase your understanding of each phase of psychiatric rehabilitation. This is an excellent opportunity for advocates and caregivers to develop skills to help patients and loved ones achieve and sustain their goals.
Avesta Webinar: Is Ketamine Addiction a Concern?
When: Sep 24, 2025 |11:30 AM ET
Where: Virtual | Hosted by Avesta Ketamine and Wellness
Register: Sign up here (free)
Avesta’s September webinar explores one of the most common questions in ketamine care: Is ketamine therapy addictive? You’ll hear from clinical experts as they break down current research, explain Avesta’s safety protocols, and share how they monitor and minimize risk. If you’re curious about the difference between clinical ketamine use and recreational misuse, this session offers practical guidance and transparent answers to help you make informed decisions.
Take the Next Step for Your Mental Health
Summer wellness events in DC are powerful tools for building relationships, discovering new resources, and reducing the stigma around mental health. As you shape your wellness goals this summer, consider attending one or more of these gatherings. Join a webinar. Try a local healing circle. Learn how ketamine therapy in Washington, DC, can help you find relief that lasts.
Avesta’s passionate care team is here to walk with you, one step at a time. Contact us today to learn about ketamine therapy and start your next chapter.
