All of Us hosts conference to address mental health stigmas, resources

With each rhythmic stroke of brush on canvas, Anusha Sadda’s blank square morphed into a landscape patched with dirty grays, chestnut browns and vibrant yellows. Her abstract scene represented the “roller coaster” of emotions she felt when asked to imagine herself as a person with HIV.

Minutes earlier, she had learned about the possible mental and social consequences of the disease. Now, placing herself in a patient’s shoes, she turned her reactions into art.

Sadda, a first-year psychobiology student, was one of more than 150 people at Sunday’s Mental Health Matters conference hosted by All of Us, a branch of the Undergraduate Students Association Council Student Wellness Commission. The event cost about $10,000 to host, and used money from USAC, Associated Students UCLA and the On-Campus Housing Council, among other sources, said Student Wellness Commissioner Savannah Badalich.

The conference aimed to address stigmas surrounding mental health, discuss how mental health is shaped in cultural contexts and recognize self-care resources on campus, Badalich said.

The 27 event workshops – including “PrEP Pills and Paintbrushes,” which Sadda attended – featured interactive discussions and activities where students could reflect on mental health. Organizers tried to foster environments where students wouldn’t be afraid of being judged or criticized as they shared their stories.

Third-year bioengineering student Rohan Kapre said he woke up before the conference feeling nauseous. He said he felt tingling, muscle tension and head pressure, but it didn’t surprise him – he’d experienced those symptoms many times before.

Kapre is one of 40 million U.S. adults who suffer from anxiety disorders, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. These disorders recently surpassed depression as the most common mental illness on college campuses, said opening speaker Elizabeth Gong-Guy, executive director of UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services.

“Knowing why this is happening to me helps so much,” Karpe said.

In some rooms, workshops focused on specific audiences, such as women, fraternity and sorority members, and Muslim and Filipino communities.

The Bruin Feminists club hosted “Mental Health from a Feminist Perspective,” where students could discuss gender roles and stereotypes. In one instance, the circle offered advice to a student who believed her close relative was battling depression.

Yomara Alcala, a third-year political science student, responded to the topic by advising the student to validate her relative’s illness. Having struggled with depression at a younger age, she said she wanted to share her experiences with others.

“We’re really more open on dealing with (the issues) as a community,” she said.

Active Minds, a group within the commission that focuses on mental health and suicide prevention, also hosted several workshops during the conference.

In one, the Hermosa Room in Carnesale Commons filled with calming music as Danielle Herrera, a third-year psychology student, introduced participants to mindful meditation.

“Imagine your tension and stress leaving with each sigh,” she intoned as the entire room took a huge, deep breath.

At another, fourth-year psychology student Nicole Moreland and third-year English student Juliette Virzi discussed J.K. Rowling’s Dementors as metaphors for depression in the workshop “Dueling with Dementors,” which was inspired by Harry Potter.

“Harry passes out after his Patronus sends the Dementors away,” said third-year business economics student Trent Kajikawa. “It’s such a good metaphor for how tiring it is to fight depression.”

Kajikawa and several others who attended the workshop said they have family and friends who deal with depression and other mental illnesses.

Regina Napolitano and Haley Kingsbury, the hosts of “Mental Health from a Feminist Perspective,” discussed self-help alternatives in addition to formal counseling during their workshop.

Sometimes mental health patients lacking access to counseling must think of alternatives, such as individual empowerment or consciousness-raising sessions, said Napolitano, a third-year gender studies student.

Kingsbury, a second-year physiological sciences student, thinks the conference was valuable because it contributed to an ongoing conversation about mental health on campus.

Rachel Feldman, co-campaign manager of All of Us and a fourth-year psychobiology student, said conference organizers have not yet discussed plans for the event’s future.