NAMI Mercer N.J., an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will commemorate Mental Illness Awareness Week by hosting its sixth annual Harvest of Hope Wellness Conference on Saturday, October 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. Throughout the observance period from October 5-11, the organization will sponsor educational and anti-stigma activities around the county.

This annual education event, funded in part by the Lawrence Township Community Foundation, is open to individuals and families affected by mental illness as well as the general public. The focus this year is “Recovery through Discovery.” Melody Moezzi, an Iranian-American activist, attorney, and award-winning author will deliver the keynote address. Her latest book, Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life, interweaves her experiences with both clinical and cultural bipolarity.

The conference then will offer attendees a choice of concurrent wellness workshops, with one session in the morning and another during the afternoon. The $10 registration fee includes breakfast and lunch. Although membership in NAMI Mercer is not required, there is an incentive price of $35 to join and attend the conference.

For more information and to register for the Harvest of Hope conference, go to www.namimercer.org or call 609-799-8994.

Ms. Moezzi will also appear on Friday, October 10 from 7-9 p.m. at Princeton Public Library, where she will deliver a book talk about her memoir. Call (609) 924-9529 or visit www.princetonlibrary.org for information.