More than 200 parents, clinicians, educators, and community members gathered at Help Group’s Autism Center on May 13 for the Mental Health Matters Breakfast, an inspiring morning focused on emotional well-being, regulation, and connection.
Featuring renowned psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and leading happiness researcher Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, the event explored how relationships, emotional awareness, kindness, and connection can foster healing in an increasingly stressful world.
The breakfast reflected Help Group’s ongoing commitment to advancing conversations around mental health and equipping families and professionals with practical tools to support children and young people.
“With one in five adults and one in five children experiencing mental health challenges, emotional well-being affects our community in profound ways,” said Dr. Susan Berman, CEO of Help Group. “We were honored to bring people together for a morning that fostered connection, inspired hope, and provided meaningful tools and insights to support those in their care.”
Throughout the morning, Dr. Siegel shared insights on interpersonal neurobiology, emotional regulation, and the lasting impact of early life experiences on development. Attendees especially appreciated his ability to translate complex concepts into practical strategies for parenting, relationships, and clinical work.
“Dr. Siegel’s presentation helped me think differently about engagement and challenges in my relationships and gave me new ideas for approaching them,” one attendee shared.
Dr. Lyubomirsky drew from more than 36 years of happiness research to offer practical, evidence-based strategies for increasing well-being through everyday practices such as kindness, gratitude, and meaningful social connection. One particularly memorable insight highlighted how positive intentions and acts of kindness can even improve physical health and reduce inflammatory responses.
Attendees left inspired not only by the speakers’ expertise, but also by the openness and authenticity they brought to the conversation.
“I walked away feeling hopeful and reminded that small moments of connection truly matter,” said one attendee. “Both speakers have a remarkable way of making science-backed research feel relatable and deeply personal. Thank you for bringing together two outstanding experts and making this event available to the community.”
The Mental Health Matters Breakfast is part of Help Group’s broader commitment to knowledge exchange and creating spaces for learning, dialogue, and community around
To continue the conversation and join us for future thought leadership events, including our upcoming Summit on Friday, October 16, 2026, visit Summit Event.