In 2026, the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island marks 110 years of advocacy grounded in lived experience. From our earliest days, we have been guided by a simple belief: when people with firsthand experience speak, systems can change.

Our movement began with Clifford Beers, whose experience in early 20th-century asylums helped spark a national reform effort demanding dignity, accountability, and humane care. That legacy is symbolized by the Mental Health Bell of Hope, forged from the iron shackles once used to restrain patients—a reminder of how far we have come, and how much work remains.

Today, MHARI carries this legacy forward by elevating lived experience, advancing policies that expand access and rights, and advocating for a stronger behavioral healthcare system for all Rhode Islanders.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to join us at the Rhode Island State House on Tuesday, May 26 at 2:30 p.m. as we honor our 110-year history and look toward the next century of reform. Legislator of the Year Awards will be presented to the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives K. Joseph Shekarchi and the Honorable Senator Linda Ujifusa. A special recognition will also be presented to Karen Jeffreys, formerly Director of Communications & Community Partnerships at Horizon Healthcare Partners.

We invite you to be part of this moment—by attending the event, supporting our advocacy through a sponsorship or individual gift, and reviewing MHARI’s policy priorities for the year ahead. Your involvement helps ensure that people living with mental illness are not spoken for, but heard—and that their voices continue to shape the systems that affect their lives.

May is Mental Health Month

May 26, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:30PM – Rhode Island State House
(plus an opportunity to engage with legislators after the event)

Rhode Island State House
82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903
2nd Floor – State Room

Questions? Contact info@mhari.org or call (401) 726-2285