Mental Health in the Spotlight: Key Panels and Speakers at SXSW 2025
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South by Southwest 2025 is bringing mental health to the forefront with a compelling lineup of panels, special events, and speakers dedicated to exploring innovative solutions, reducing mental health stigma, and fostering meaningful connections between experts and industry leaders. Below, explore eight must-see events at this year’s conference, a curated short list of mental health panels, and some helpful tips for tackling SXSW.
Mental health at the SXSW Conference (South by Southwest) by the SXSW LLC brand: An overview
The SXSW conference has welcomed diverse speakers and panelists to share ideas across a wide range of topics, including mental health. SXSW serves as a hub for innovation across creative and tech communities, making it a unique platform for fostering collaboration, initiating meaningful conversations between industry leaders, and driving forward-thinking solutions.
Featured panels on mental health at SXSW LLC brand 2025
SXSW 2025 features a diverse lineup of featured speakers addressing some of the most pressing issues in mental health. If you’re interested in health and well-being, these panels may be worth adding to your itinerary. Check the SXSW website to stay informed about the date, time, and location of the following panels.
When AI Saves Lives: Real Applications in Mental Health at the South by Southwest SXSW conference
Over the past several years, many mental health organizations have been using AI tools to address critical areas such as veteran mental health, suicide prevention, and addiction services. When AI Saves Lives: Real Applications in Mental Health will focus on real-world applications of generative AI in sensitive contexts, offering insights into challenges, best practices, and ethical considerations.
From Virtual Worlds to Real Wellness: VR and Mental Health
From Virtual Worlds to Real Wellness: VR and Mental Health will explore how virtual reality can support mental health through immersive, innovative experiences. Experts will discuss VR’s potential to address and prevent mental health challenges, focusing on ethics, accessibility, and bridging creative and healthcare fields to reconnect individuals with their bodies, minds, and communities.
The Promise of AI and Wearable Tech: Will it Lead to our Collective Wellbeing?
Featuring panelists working at the intersection of social justice and wellness, The Promise of AI and Wearable Tech: Will it Lead to our Collective Wellbeing? will examine the impact of AI-driven wearable tech on health, exploring its potential to improve mental health while addressing concerns about bias and racial inequities.
Revolutionizing Mental Healthcare With Implantable Devices
Revolutionizing Mental Healthcare With Implantable Devices will feature psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and industry and thought leaders to explore innovative treatment pathways for people living with mental illnesses. With a focus on implantable devices designed to regulate brain activity or stimulate neural pathways, the discussion will address stigma, rising diagnoses, and the future of mental health treatment.
Successful Workplaces: Balancing Growth and Well-Being
While the fast-paced environment of a startup or new account can be exciting, the day-to-day pressures of rapid growth can challenge workplace well-being. Successful Workplaces: Balancing Growth and Well-Being will examine strategies for maintaining employee satisfaction, fostering resilience, and addressing hybrid and remote work challenges. At this panel, you may learn helpful tips for creating a healthy company culture.
Mental health-focused interactive events and networking opportunities
The following SXSW events offer interactive opportunities to engage with mental health topics, connect with like-minded attendees, and explore innovative approaches to wellness through workshops, networking, and experiential activities.
Workplace Mental Health Meet Up
Hosted by renowned psychologists specializing in employee well-being, the Workplace Mental Health Meet Up will tackle topics like stress, burnout, and employer mental health initiatives, offering leaders practical advice and solutions. Whether you’re new to addressing mental health in the workplace or looking to enhance existing strategies, this meetup could be an opportunity to share your ideas, ask questions, and gain new insights.
Health Entrepreneurs Meet Up and marketing
Join this networking event to meet other professionals building health, wellness, fitness, and health tech businesses. The Health Entrepreneurs Meet Up provides a space to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, exchange ideas, and find support to grow your venture. Designed to foster collaboration, it features interactive activities and opportunities to build meaningful connections.
Modern Leadership: Turning Employee Well-Being into Your Competitive Edge
Explore how purposeful leadership can transform employee well-being into a driver of innovation and success. Drawing from Angela Jackson’s book The Win-Win Workplace, the Modern Leadership session will offer strategies to create thriving, impactful organizations where employees excel.
Mental health panels from past SXSW marketing and conference events
Over the years, SXSW has become a key platform for groundbreaking discussions on mental health, featuring panels that explore innovative solutions, personal stories, and industry challenges. To explore past mental health conversations, check out the following standout panels from 2024:
- Mindfulness Over Perfection: Getting Real On Mental Health: This session brought together Wondermind co-founders Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefey with Solomon Thomas and Dr. Corey Yeager to discuss the power of authenticity in mental health conversations. Moderated by Dr. Jessica Stern, the panel emphasized breaking stigma, managing negative self-talk, and embracing flexibility in mental healthcare.
- Turning Pain Into Purpose: Advocating for Mental Health: Carmela Wallace shared her journey of transforming grief into action through Live Free 999, an organization she founded after the loss of her son, rapper Juice WRLD. This session highlighted the importance of destigmatizing mental health and substance dependency, emphasizing the importance of crisis prevention and advocacy.
- Mental Health in Higher Education: From Theory to Practice: In this session from SXSW EDU 2024, participants explored the connection between mental health and academic success in higher education. The discussion introduced the Minding College Minds Framework, offering actionable strategies for creating inclusive, campus-wide mental health initiatives.
- Inside Mental Health: Building Empathy with VR: This panel highlighted the award-winning immersive VR experience Goliath: Playing With Reality, used in the UK to train empathy within healthcare settings. The discussion focused on how VR can address stigma in mental health care, bridge empathy gaps, and improve patient and provider outcomes.
- Mental Health at Work: A Skills-Based Approach: This session emphasized the importance of conversational literacy in addressing mental health at work. Presenters explored why discussing mental health remains a challenge, the shared responsibility of individuals and companies, and how “upskilling” can improve workplace mental health initiatives. Practical strategies were shared with both employees and organizational leaders.
Tips for success: Getting the most out of South by Southwest
Navigating SXSW can be overwhelming, but with some planning and the right strategies, you can maximize your experience. Whether you’re attending panels, festivals, or networking events, the following tips may help you make the most of your time at SXSW while also enjoying all Austin has to offer.
- Plan ahead: Organize your schedule using the SXSW app and prioritize events that align with your goals and interests.
- Follow Austin businesses on social media: Many local businesses host unofficial events that can enhance your SXSW experience and provide unique networking opportunities.
- Make the most of networking opportunities: Take the initiative to connect with other attendees during panels, workshops, and after-hours events.
- Expand your horizons: Explore the SXSW Music Festival and SXSW Film Festival to discover new artists and creators while broadening your perspective.
- Take a break: Step away from the overwhelm of Downtown Austin. Take a dip in Barton Springs Pool, explore the trails of the Green Belt, or enjoy a peaceful moment by Lady Bird Lake.
Mental health support options
The mental health industry and other technologies have expanded significantly in recent years. For example, telehealth therapy has become increasingly popular. Whether you are a busy professional seeking to improve work-life balance or a driven creative looking for clarity and inspiration, online therapy with a platform like BetterHelp can fit into your schedule and support your goals. In therapy, you’ll benefit from compassionate care by a licensed mental health professional trained in evidence-based tools and techniques for managing mental health, improving relationships, and achieving personal growth.
As the world’s largest mental health care platform, BetterHelp is making mental health services more affordable and accessible for people from all walks of life. Decades of research support the use of therapy for a wide range of mental and emotional challenges, and recent research has found no difference in therapy’s effectiveness, whether delivered in person or online.
Takeaway
Where do I pick up my badge?
You can pick up your badge at the Austin Convention Center.
What is SXSW Pitch?
SXSW Pitch is a startup competition held during the SXSW conference. It showcases startups across various industry verticals. Entrepreneurs present their ideas to a panel of judges to gain exposure, feedback, and networking opportunities.
Who are the 2025 SXSW keynote speakers?
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna is the keynote speaker for SXSW 2025. Past keynote speakers have included Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Brene Brown.
What does SXSW stand for?
SXSW stands for “South by Southwest,” an annual Austin, Texas, festival celebrating culture, film, music, and creation in March. This festival was initially founded in 1987 as a music festival to honor musicians but has since started celebrating filmmakers and actors, YouTube creators, screening talent, influencers, gaming developers, and other creative exhibitions.
The main convention holds booths and events within the convention center, but other venues in the city can also be accessed, such as theaters, concert halls, and art galleries. Many of these places can be accessed on foot and are close to the main event so that fans can watch all the shows, short films, clips, and presentations they want to see. One such film is Road House, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which has made the news as a must-see film this year. SXSW festivals are also held in other places worldwide, including SXSW Sydney and SXSW London.
Is SXSW kid-friendly?
Many of the events hosted at SXSW are kid-friendly, such as specific concerts, films, and presentations. On the SXSW website, they cover this question, responding that children aged 13 and over may attend the event with a proper ticket. A ticketed adult must accompany those 12 and under for any scheduled programming over the week of the festival. Ensure you register early to get tickets for yourself and your children. Registration for the presale starts in April, early ticket sales start in June through August, and you must register for SXSW Education by November to receive a discount on your ticket price for the coming SXSW season.
Can anyone go to SXSW?
Anyone who purchases a valid pass for SXSW can attend. However, minors under 12 must attend with a ticketed adult. In addition, you must always have your valid badge with you at all SXSW events to enter. Some people can access day parties and outside-connected events without a badge. Single-day box office tickets might be sold outside venues if seats or spots open up.
What is SXSW Sydney?
SXSW Sydney is South by Southwest but occurs in Sydney to celebrate the creations of those in the Asia-Pacific region. They focus on games, music, and screen and host many talks, films, short videos, and concerts in Sydney, Australia. You can go to their website to register for 2025 in the future, which has not yet been scheduled.
How is SXSW pronounced?
You can pronounce the acronym of SXSW as each individual letter “S,” “X,” “S,” and “W,” or as the full name of the event: “South by Southwest.”
Is SXSW the biggest?
SXSW is the biggest music festival in the world. Over 300,000 people attend this event annually.
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