Panel Session 1A
Be Sensitive Be Brave: Culturally Attuned Suicide Prevention 101
Gabriel Corpus
Psychology Postdoctoral Scholar | UCI Counseling Center
Location: Emerald Bay A
Gabriel Corpus is the current Postdoctoral Fellow in Suicide Prevention at the UCI Counseling Center. His focus is on providing therapy and suicide prevention training to UCI students. He is a UCI alumnus as well–graduating in 2014. The workshop will focus on educating participants about the basics of suicide prevention, including definitions, myths/facts, and how to help someone in need. Throughout it, Dr. Corpus will identify cultural factors that impact how to identify suicide risk factors and how to help others from a culturally attuned model.

Panel Session 1B
UCI Student Exposure to Toxicity & Extremism in Online Games: The Problem, Its Consequences, and Possible Solutions
Constance Steinkuehler, Garrison Wells, Agnes Romhanyi
Games+Learning+Society Center
Location: Emerald Bay B
Games are deeply woven into UCI’s culture, from the undergraduate major to student organizations and the esports arena and team. Yet games are also a locus for online extremism, directly impacting students through their engagement with games. In this presentation, speakers will review findings from a recent project funded by the UCI Building Community: Confronting Extremism project that investigates the forms of online hate-based harassment and extremism in online games. Here they will detail empirical findings from a survey of UCI students about their experiences with online hate, how they conceptualize the causes and consequences of such behavior, the industry tools offered in online games to combat it, and possible solutions.

Panel Session 1C
Roads to Recovery
Keerti Agrawal
Associate Social Worker
Location: Emerald Bay C
Ready to take control of your mental health journey but need help figuring out where to start? If you’ve tried different approaches but still feel stuck, it’s time to discover what works best for you. Join Keerti Agrawal for an engaging and informative workshop that takes a personalized approach to mental health, helping you to overcome the barriers that have held you back. Don’t wait to start your path toward healing–take the first step toward a brighter future!

Workshop Session 1D
Behind Happy Faces Part I
Toni Martinez
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Programs Manager | UCI Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Location: Balboa B
This two-part workshop is a mental health awareness curriculum designed to equip college students with the tools to help them navigate the mental health continuum to support academic success and promote life skills.

Workshop Session 2A
Behind Happy Faces Part II
Toni Martinez
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Programs Manager | UCI Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Location: Balboa B
This two-part workshop is a mental health awareness curriculum designed to equip college students with the tools to help them navigate the mental health continuum to support academic success and promote life skills. Please note that you must attend Behind Happy Faces Part I!

Workshop Session 2B
The Interplay of Psychology, Physiology, and Culture
Cameron R. Wiley, Vida Pourmand
Health Psychology Ph.D. Students | UCI Department of Psychological Science
Location: Emerald Bay A
An important aspect of psychological functioning and mental health is the collective influences on physiological functioning and physical health outcomes. While the mind-body connection has been established for decades, less attention has been given to potential variations in these connections as a function of culture. This is critical given the longstanding health disparities between White Americans and racial/ethnic minorities such as Asian, Black, and Latino Americans, as well as increasing evidence suggesting that these minorities experience unique stressors (e.g., discrimination) and have distinct perceptions of emotional and social well-being. This talk aims to explore psychosocial and cultural factors as they relate to health.

Workshop Session 2C
Self-Care as a Form of Resistance
Kim Moran
Wellness Program Intern. | UCI Latinx Resource Center
Location: Emerald Bay B
The feeling of being drained and overwhelmed by daily demands is a shared experience many of us push through that can leave us unable to pause and check in with ourselves and our needs. Listening to our body can get blurry when we are in a system of constant demands, and rest can begin to feel like guilt. Through slowing down and reclaiming time for ourselves, we can push back against demanding systems and learn the importance of prioritizing our holistic health. Join Kim Moran’s workshop to explore and discuss how we can regain control in our daily life to reclaim rest, care, and love for ourselves.

Workshop Session 2D
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 1-Hour Overview
Dean Wong, Sandra Cuyuch
UCI Certified MHFA Instructors (Office Manager, CalFresh Manager) | UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
Location: Moss Cove B
This workshop provides an overview of the MHFA training offered by UCI, which teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives participants the skills to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone developing a substance use problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. MHFA takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance-use issues by improving, understanding, and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address these situations for the mission of a healthier, happier, and safer community.

Panel Session 3A
From Cocoon to Confident: Navigating the Quarter Life Metamorphosis
Elijah Zoarski
Founder of Psycle Health
Location: Emerald Bay A
Entering the “real world” after college can be an overwhelming experience. The pressure to succeed in a career, find financial stability, and maintain personal relationships can create a quarter-life crisis that feels like a never-ending metamorphosis. Anxiety, depression, and burnout can also exacerbate this period of change. However, just like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, navigating this period can lead to a more confident and fulfilling life. Through personal anecdotes and practical tips, this talk guides those feeling stuck in their cocoon and looking to emerge as a more confident and self-assured butterfly while prioritizing their mental health.

Panel Session 3B
Staff Shares: A Journey with AOD
Cassie Finazzo
Alcohol & Other Drugs and Peer Education Programs Manager | UCI Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Location: Moss Cove B
Meet Cassie Finazzo, UCI’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Programs Manager. Cassie’s role on campus entails education on safety, harm reduction, and myths and facts about alcohol and other drugs. Cassie comes to us from working closely with AOD topics at CSUEB, Fresno State, and a local nonprofit substance abuse clinic. Join us at this informal talk where Cassie shares her experiences, campus AOD services, and a remarkable story of a “not so average” college girl and her life transformation.

Panel Session 3C
How Does the Environment Get Under Our Skin?
Karen D. Lincoln, Isaac Ford, Jr.
Director, Center for Environmental Health Disparities Research | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant
Location: Emerald Bay B
Environmental racism is a critical component of the system of oppression that impacts the mental health of minoritized communities. This workshop explores how social determinants of health affect our mental health and emotional well-being. Karen D. Lincoln and Isaac Ford, Jr. will share evidence from research, practice, and lived experiences to demonstrate how traumatic and chronic stress can lead to post-traumatic growth.

Panel Session 3D
Behavioral and Mental Health Needs of Young Adults in the Criminal Justice System
Jordan Beardslee, Marie L. Gillespie
Psychological Science Postdoctoral Scholars | UCI Development, Disorder, and Delinquency Lab
Location: Emerald Bay C
This workshop focuses on the behavioral and mental health needs of young adults who are involved in the criminal justice system, highlights two novel programs being conducted in Orange County, and provides the research framework and preliminary data assessing the effectiveness of these programs. Although considered adults under the law, transitional-age youth (TAY; 18-25 years old) have many of the needs and vulnerabilities of adolescents, making this developmental period an essential window of opportunity for prevention and intervention programs. This workshop discusses cutting-edge research in Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman’s laboratory, including two randomized controlled trials of a collaborative young adult court and a jail-based TAY housing program.

Workshop Session 4A
You Don’t Have to Be an Addict to Need a Recovery Program
George Haymaker
Founder and CEO of ReThink: A KINDER Ice Cream
Location: Balboa B
George Haymaker, a recovering alcoholic addict and founder of ReThink Ice Cream, tells his story of mental health challenges and addiction. He relates how his recovery experience can help everyone better navigate today’s world and mental health challenges.

Panel Session 4B
Why Make Things? Stitch to Heal, Repair and Advocate
Dr. Jessica Eldridge
Senior Staff Psychologist | UCI Counseling Center
Location: Emerald Bay A
Why Make Things? is a 3-part experiential workshop series that promotes handmade crafts as hobbies and techniques for coping with and participating in life. This special version of the workshop series combines information from all 3 parts to help attendees understand why one might Stitch to Heal for mental health benefits, Stitch to Repair to extend the life of clothing and explore sustainable alternatives to fast fashion, and Stitch to Advocate to promote social justice.

Workshop Session 4C
Let’s Talk About Depression
Tigran Nersisian
Byulor Films
Location: Emerald Bay B
Tigran Nersisian is an Armenian-American film director and video producer in Los Angeles focusing on mental illness, identity, and self-exploration. While creating his film Out of Mind, he found himself amid the darkest episode of his own depression. Seeking help, he turned to his university’s mental health system only to be offered the same old solution–antidepressants and generic therapy sessions. It was time to take matters into his own hands and create a working toolkit. And now, he wants to share it with you. He will screen Out of Mind, share his journey, discuss the significance of films to mental illness, and explore the importance of having open conversations about depression. Join him for a powerful and transformative experience.

Workshop Session 4D
The Future of Healthcare: An Exploration of Digital Health Tools and Their Impact on Patient Care
Justine Bautista, Kelly Dickenson, Ashley Pagador
Asian Mental Health Collective Research Team Member, Mental Health Youth Action Forum | Participant, Connecting the EdTech Research Ecosystem (CERES) Center Fellow
Location: Emerald Bay C
As the healthcare landscape evolves, digital health tools are becoming increasingly important in supporting patients and providers. In this presentation, Justine Bautista, Kelly Dickenson, and Ashley Pagador will explore today’s digital health tools and their impact on patient outcomes. The workshop will also discuss why these tools are crucial for enhancing patient engagement and empowerment and how you can advocate for their integration into healthcare delivery. Justine Bautista will also discuss her journey in advocacy and her experiences at The White House.

Panel Session 1A
Harm Reduction Approaches to Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating
Andrea Lochtefeld
Clinical Social Worker | Mindpath College Health
Location: Emerald Bay A
This talk will explore how harm reductionist philosophies can be transformative in supporting the health and wellness of those struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating.

Workshop Session 1B
Step Up UCI! Bystander Intervention Training
Cassie Finazzo
Alcohol & Other Drugs and Peer Education Programs Manager | UCI Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion
Location: Emerald Bay B
Campuses across the country are implementing bystander intervention programs to encourage students to pay more attention to what is happening around them and to intervene when they see something they are concerned about or someone who needs help. The Step Up UCI! Bystander intervention program operates under the following mantra: If you see something you are worried about, say and do something. If you need help, ask for it with confidence and expect to get it, or simply See Something, Say Something, Do Something! The program encourages students, faculty, and staff to use the above mantra to help create a safer, healthier campus environment.

Workshop Session 1C
Growing Through Trauma: How I Became Resilient
Sirena Cuevas
Lab Manager | UCI Trauma and Resilience Lab
Location: Emerald Bay C
In this workshop, Sirena Cuevas will share her experience with trauma, how it affected her, and how she learned to become resilient. This will be an interactive workshop where you will learn how to identify positive coping skills to reclaim control of your well-being while also guiding you through difficult experiences in life.

Panel Session 1D
Sleep, Cognition, and Mental and Physical Health
Jing Zhang, Alessandra Shuster, Allison Morehouse, Andres Pena
UCI Sleep and Cognition Lab
Location: Balboa B
Sleep is paramount to healthy functioning, yet one in four college students struggle with falling and staying asleep. This workshop is led by the Sleep and Cognition (SaC) Lab and focuses on sleep and how it pertains to cognition and mental and physical health.

Panel Session 2A
PrisonPandemic: The Isolation Within Isolation of Carceral COVID Confinement
Joanne DeCaro, Gabe Rosales
UCI Sleep and Cognition Lab
Location: Emerald Bay A
The United States’ now half-century project of hyper-incarceration has resulted in innumerable tragedies, much of which can be known only through the voices of those directly impacted. PrisonPandemic represents a unique archive of narratives produced and collected in an unprecedented era of mass death—the COVID-19 pandemic. This discussion will address some of the mental health challenges incarcerated people endured when they were stripped of many of the methods people use to hold themselves together in an already unforgiving environment. They invite you to listen to phone calls and letters from people behind the walls to hear their struggles and successes in their own words.

Workshop Session 2B
H.E.A.R.T. (Healthy Emotions and Attitudes in Relationships Today)
Ariana Vargas
Education and Outreach Specialist | Laura’s House
Location: Emerald Bay B
Laura’s House is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to changing social beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence. They are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of dating abuse and offer an educational program for students (youth) to address this widespread issue. Their H.E.A.R.T. workshop will offer an interactive and informative resource for information, education, and prevention on the topic of healthy relationships and discuss healthy boundaries, types of abuse, red flags, how to help a friend and resources.

Panel Session 2C
Make Your Boundaries Bloom
Rasta Bagheri
CARE Advocate | UCI CARE
Location: Emerald Bay C
In this workshop, Rasta Bagher will educate participants on what boundaries are and why they are important. Through an interactive activity, participants will explore what boundaries they have or would like to set. Further, there will be an activity with seed paper where individuals can set goals for their own boundary setting, write them on seed paper, then plant them as a way to manifest their boundaries and focus on their own empowerment.

Workshop Session 2D
Focus on Lifting Our Individual Students’ Health and Happiness (FLOURISH)
Dr. S. Ama Wray
Creator of Embodiology, Professor | UCI Department of Dance
Location: Moss Cove B
This workshop utilizes insights from Embodiology–an African-inspired movement practice that leads to hemispheric brain balance. Through breathwork and polyrhythm, you’ll enter into a sensory exploration that ultimately leads to a connection with the whole picture, and this includes greater empathy with others.

Panel Session 3A
Beyond Burnout
Dr. Dawn Bounds, Stephanie Guarda, Julie Ngoc Huynh, Nayeli Inzunza
UCI Centering Youth & Families for Empowerment and Resilience (CYFER) Lab
Location: Emerald Bay A
This presentation will venture beyond the definition of burnout to create awareness of how to recognize the mental and physical symptoms of burnout and practice prevention and recovery strategies. Presenters will share how they have coped with experiencing burnout as undergraduate students. Self-regulation and self-care strategies such as HeartMath, sleep hygiene, adequate water intake, and exercise will be explored as techniques to recover and prevent burnout.

Panel Session 3B
The Mind-Body Connection in the Neuroscience of Wellbeing
John F. Guzowski
UCI Wellness Ambassador, Associate Professor | UCI Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
Location: Emerald Bay B
We live in strange times. On one hand, we know more about the psychological and biological bases for increasing our ability to lead a life of mental well-being. Conversely, the rates of mood disorders are skyrocketing in young adults. This workshop discusses the connections between our lifestyle practices and the physiology of our nervous systems. By understanding how our lifestyle choices change our brain and nervous systems to increase our mental function and emotional well-being, we are more likely to engage in those beneficial practices. In pursuing this approach, John F. Guzowski focuses on ways to make these behavioral changes incremental, attainable, and possible to integrate into a busy life.

Workshop Session 3C
Craft and Destress
Alia Munn, Zoe Zhuang
Location: Emerald Bay DE
This “Craft and Destress” workshop offers a fun and hands-on activity to relax at the Reclaim Mental Health Conference! You will be given supplies to create a butterfly that represents every individual regardless of gender, age, and social status shines and walks their own unique journey and growth through mental health. You are welcome to express yourself in any way you wish!

Workshop Session 4A
The Power of Telling Your Story
Amanda Wilson-Eck, Chris Pionke
NAMI of Orange County
Location: Emerald Bay A
G Personal stories have the power to move people and bring about change. For individuals struggling with mental health, this act can help uplift and empower them. NAMI Orange County trains young adults each year to share their stories and inspire the next generation to find hope and resilience in their mental health. Join Amanda Wilson-Eck and Chris Pionke as they walk you through the steps to craft your own lived experience in narrative form while also helping you to develop your own comfortable way of sharing with others.

Workshop Session 4B
Our Brave Space for Eco-Grief
Sage Wuu, Freddy Francisco Ramos
UCI Sustainability Resource Center
Location: Emerald Bay B
Please join friends and student leaders Sage Wuu and Freddy Francisco Ramos as they create a brave space to share our experiences related to eco-grief and eco-anxiety. Inspired by the popular education model, they hope to collectively derive support, tools, and healing strategies for anyone who has felt worried or saddened by the environmental state of our planet in the midst of a changing climate.

Workshop Session 4C
Breaking Barriers: The Status of Womxn in Leadership
Shruti Gundu
Leadership Admin Student Intern | UCI Womxn’s Center for Success
Location: Emerald Bay C
Interested in learning more about womxn’s leadership and the different barriers womxn face? In this workshop, we will discuss the challenges that womxn in leadership face and how we can work to combat these difficulties.