EVENTS
Meg Kissinger’s best-selling book, While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence, peels back the curtain on how toxic shame can be for families. People living with the pain of serious mental illness need our support. She urges readers to Speak Up About It! Come and be part of the conversation.
Fall 2026
New Dates Posted September 2026
September 3 • French Lick, IN
Keynote Speaker
Annual Meeting of the Judicial Conference of Indiana
French Lick, IN 47432
Indiana Courts Education »
September 12 • Green Bay, WI • 7:00 PM
Be The Light, Keynote Speaker
And 7000 Apart Swedish / American band with Amelie Eiding and Jonathan Kresin.
A family-friendly event, lights up the night to reduce stigma and prevent suicide. Mental health resource fair and one mile night-time walk.
More Information »
September 17 • Door County, WI • 6:00 PM
Meg Kissinger will join Door County Medical Center mental health therapists Emily Kraynak and Allycia Bretl for a conversation about how to support families and break the shame of mental illness.
Kress Pavilion, Upper Level
7845 Church Street
Egg Harbor, WI 54209
More Information »
September 18 • Door County, WI • 10:45 AM Doors Open & 11:30 AM Start
Celebrate Women LUNCHEON
“What I Learned Traveling America to Talk About Mental Health” Keynote
Stone Harbor Resort
107 N 1st Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235-2537
Tickets on sale Monday, August 3 »
Peninsula Pulse blurb »
September 19 • Oak Creek, WI • 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Restored Women's Conference
Discover Church Chapel
7311 South 13th Street
Oak Creek, WI 53154
More Information »
September 29 • Oconomowoc, WI • 7:00 PM
All Church Book Read Discussion with Meg Kissinger
First United Congregational Church of Christ
815 S Concord Road
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Church Website »
October 20 • Milwaukee, WI
Northwestern Mutual
Closed Event
November 4 • Mequon, WI • 12:00 NOON
In Conversation with Robert Kolkerabout his new book, “The Vanishing Family.”
Shully’s Cuisine and Events
146 Green Bay Road
Thiensville, WI 53092
Shully’s website »
November 11 • West Bend, WI • 11:00 AM
West Bend Women’s Club
West Bend Women’s Club »
November 17 • Milwaukee, WI • 5:30 PM
A Conversation About Resilience
Sojourner Truth House
619 W Walnut Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Sojourner Truth House website »
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PAST 2026
June 8–9 • St. Petersburg, FL
Pinellas County Youth Mental Health Fair
May 21 • Wheeling, IL
Wheeling IL Library
Main Library
355 Schoenbeck Rd
Wheeling, IL 60090
Indian Trails Library >>
May 16 • Wilmette, IL
North Shore Counseling Gala
Michigan Shores Club
911 Michigan Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
North Shore Counseling Center >>
May 8 • Waukesha, WI • 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Blue Jean Bingo, Southeast Wisconsin National Alliance on Mental Illness
Waukesha County Technical College
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI 53072
Tickets on Sale March 2026, $125
Southeast WI NAMI >>
March 14• Waukesha County, WI
Hebron Housing retreat
Hebron House >>
March 6• Baltimore, MD • 12:10 PM – 1:25 PM
Breaking the Silence: Writing Mental Health into Memoir
Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference
Book-Fair Stage, Hall A–D, Level 100
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference Events >>
March 4 • Bethesda, MD • 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Wednesday Morning Group
Wednesday Morning Group Speaker Calendar >>
Bearing witness
Meg Kissinger will speak during the Shabbat service held in Samson Sanctuary for the Sanford J. Ettinger Memorial Lecture, Congregation Shalom, 7630N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point, WI
Inside the Journal Sentinel
In conversation with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editor Greg Borowski about how investigating Milwaukee’s mental health system encouraged her to turn the notebook on her own family.
Helping families
Meg Kissinger returns to her childhood parish to discuss how the church can help families struggling with mental illness. With representatives from the Archdiocese’s LOSS program and National Alliance on Mental Illness. Sts. Joseph and Francis Xavier Church, 808 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Ill.
Mental Ilness in Families of Faith
Join us to discuss mental illness in families of faith with authors Meg Kissinger and Kathleen Geuder Martin. Moderated by Rev. Dr. Lisa Bates-Frioland. Event sponsored by National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southeast Wisconsin. Redeemer Lutheran Church Sanctuary, 631 N. 19th St., Milwaukee
Southeast Wisconsin Book Festival
Columnist and therapist Philip Chard interviews Meg, Room N130 at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha www.sewibookfest.com
New York City, NY.
Please join us on Thursday, September 14 at 5:30pm for a discussion with award-winning investigative journalist Meg Kissinger about her new book, “While You Were Out: An Intimate Portrait of Mental Illness In An Era of Secrecy.” With Sheila Coronel, Director of the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at the Columbia Journalism School, the conversation will explore the techniques, challenges and rewards of investigating the challenging topics of mental illness and suicide, and turning ones investigative chops on oneself and those held dearest. The event is open to Columbia Journalism School students and the public, and will also be livestreamed on Zoom.
Reception: 5:30pm | Conversation: 6:00-7:00pm | Book signing: 7:00-7:30pm
Books will be available for purchase on site. You can also purchase a copy in advance here.
Register here.
New York City, NY.
P&T Knitwear is pleased to welcome Meg Kissinger for a discussion of her newest memoir, While You Were Out, along with an audience Q&A and book signing. From award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger, While You Were Out is a searing memoir of a family besieged by mental illness, as well as an incisive exploration of the systems that failed them and a testament to the love that sustained them.
Meg will be joined in conversation by Robert Kolker, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road. After the talk, Meg will sign copies of her books.
Register here.
Winnetka, Ill.
While You Were Out: An Evening with Meg Kissinger (Co-sponsored by Wilmette Public Library)
We are looking forward to hosting award-winning journalist (and Wilmette native) Meg Kissinger at the store for a discussion featuring her new book, While You Were Out, a searing memoir of a family besieged by mental illness, as well as an incisive exploration of the systems that failed them and a testament to the love that sustained them. Powerful, candid and filled with surprising humor, this is the story of one family’s love and resilience in face of great loss. This event is co-sponsored by the Wilmette Public Library and is free with registration.
Register here.
Milwaukee, WI.
Meg Kissinger, author of While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence
In conversation with Jacki Lyden, at the Loos Room of Milwaukee Public Library’s Centennial Hall, 733 N Eighth St.
Tuesday, September 5, 6:30 pm
Milwaukee journalist and Pulitzer finalist Meg Kissinger appears at Milwaukee Public Library’s Centennial Hall Loos Room for the launch of her searing new memoir, While You Were Out, which tells the story of a family besieged by mental illness and offers an incisive exploration of the systems that failed them and a testament to the love that sustained them. In conversation with NPR journalist Jacki Lyden, author of the memoir Daughter of the Queen of Sheba.
Register here. Be sure to order your copy of While You Were Out now.