Hack for Mental Health (United Nations SDG #3) sponsored by Twitter & PubNub

Local Bay Area businesses are hosting the city's first hackathon to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The SDGs are targets designed by the United Nations to promote a more peaceful and prosperous world.  While mental health is relevant to all 17 of the SDGs, this creative conference is focused primarily on Goal #3:  Good Health & Well-being. This year's theme is "Hacking the mental health system:  Creating community-based solutions to combat depression, anxiety, loneliness & addiction."  This is in honor of mental health month in May and SDG #3.

The purpose of the event is to bring diverse members of the community together to co-create solutions related to mental health.  We welcome everyone to participate including artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, designers, community members and engineers who are ready and willing to work together to generate ideas and create solutions that address mental health and well-being.  Solutions can include anything from digital products, policy proposals, art installations, apps or pitch decks for innovative business ideas.  Through the event, we will help:

• Destigmatize mental health and cultivate a dialog about depression, anxiety, loneliness & addiction,
  
• Increase awareness among local residents so that they are more conscious of different ways to make the world a better place, using the SDGs as a shared framework,
• Bring diverse members of the community together to co-create solutions related to mental health, and
• Give diverse members of our community - including artists, technologists, entrepreneurs, designers, community members and engineers- a chance to showcase their skills in a unique setting with employers.

We’ll have local community leaders and industry experts share their knowledge on issues such as social determinants of health, the impact of depression on the brain and the neuroscience of the "growth mindset."  The event will cultivate discussions that promote knowledge and destigmatize mental health.  WIth diverse stakeholders in the same space - this hackathon will foster conversations for innovation.  It's also a creative conference where participants can be recruited and have the chance to win an array of prizes.

AGENDA

• 8:00 - 9:00 Team check-ins, complimentary breakfast and networking with event sponsors, including local VCs, community-based organizations, tech companies and other firms seeking to hire and support attendees

• 9:00 AM - 09:15AM Opening remarks and Hackathon guidelines

• 9:15 AM - 10:15AM  Sponsor presentations: PubNub, Twitter, United Nations Association 

• 10:15AM - 10:30AM 60 seconds Pitch

• 10:30AM - 4:00PM Hackathon time! Teams develop their solutions (products, policy solutions, etc.): Complimentary lunch to be provided to event participants

• 4:00PM - 4:45PM Team Pitch competition & demos (teams will have up to 5 minutes to pitch, and 5 minutes will be allotted for Q&A)

• 4:45 - 5:00 Awards and prizes ceremony

SPONSORS

* NOTE:  Agenda subject to change