A GUIDE TO
WELCOME TO
Welcome to our 9th annual UC Davis Mental Health Conference! There is no doubt that the exponential growth of our initiative is due to the commitment and support of our wonderful mental health growth, we want to acknowledge underrepresented communities also navigate through our healing and education, we must bear in mind that our struggles are collectively bound to those of other communities. It is our responsibility, as people fortunate enough to be in this space, to use our knowledge and opportunities to sow the seeds of empowerment all around us.
Welcome to our 9th annual UC Davis Mental Health Conference! There is no doubt that the exponential growth of our initiative is due to the commitment and support of our wonderful mental health community on and off campus. In our growth, we want to acknowledge underrepresented communities also affected by mental health. As we navigate through our healing and education, we must bear in mind that our struggles are collectively bound to those of other communities. It is our responsibility, as people fortunate enough to be in this space, to use our knowledge and opportunities to sow the seeds of empowerment all around us.
OUR MISSION & HISTORY
MHI was established in 2016 as an Associated Students of UC Davis Senate project, a completely student-led endeavor. In less than 2 years, MHI has grown to incorporate the UC Davis Mental Health Awareness Month, which features over 20 days of programming and collaboration, and the social UC Davis Counseling Services Advisory Board. In 2020, MHI became an official ASUCD Unit which has allowed the organization to host more frequent & wide scale events focused on intersections within mental health. The UC Davis Mental Health Initiative (MHI) aims to engage students in destigmatization and education efforts, prompt attendees to organize around mental health issues, and offer them.
CONTRIBUTIONS
This conference would not be possible without the help of our board members: Ramya Pondicherry, Daezhon Gilbarg, Emerald Hue, Alyssa Reid, Monika Lepe, Jessica Zhou, Moabi Levkovitz, Jasmine Stowers, Sara Vasquez, Amanda Wu, and Zafreen Shaik
And our team members: Kyra Cvitanich, Jessica Partida, Giancarlo Castillo, Adam Cha, Andrea Carlos, Xian Chen, Kayla Joachin, Aashi Shah, Nicole Chen, Nandini Datta, Iha Rastogi, Sophie Lance, Aya Clear, Suahn Cho, Melissa Lee, Soojin You, Alondra Villa-Gallegos, Laura Zhou, Natalie Yuen, Jack McMahon, Lily Fan, Claire Shin, Angela Felix, Twisha Rao, Rachel Park and Aarzoo Patel
Additionally, thank you to the Associated Students of UC Davis & Staff for all the support!
We would also like to mention Soluna for their generous sponsorships. Your support is greatly appreciated!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS
“A service for 13 – 25-year-olds, powered by Kooth Digital Health. Soluna is an innovative virtual behavioral health program, developed through a collaboration between the California Department of Health Care Services and Kooth (that’s us!). Launched in January 2024, Soluna will provide youth and young adults (ages 13 – 25) with immediate access to a comprehensive mental health toolkit, community support, resources, journaling, and personal coaching – all at no cost to the user.”
Follow Soluna on Instagram: @soluna.app
Scan the QR Code or visit solunaapp.com for more information.
LAND & LABOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We should take a moment to acknowledge the land on which we are gathered. For thousands of years, this land has been the home of Patwin people. Today, there are three federally recognized Patwin tribes: Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
The Patwin people have remained committed to the stewardship of this land over many centuries. It has been cherished and protected, as elders have instructed the young through generations. We are honored and grateful to be here today on their traditional lands.
Find out what Indigenous land are you standing on: native-land.ca
Acknowledging these atrocities is only a step in the right direction, but the fight does not end here.
We must acknowledge that much of what we know of this country today, including its culture, economic growth, and development throughout history and across time, has been made possible by the labor of enslaved Africans and their ascendants who suffered the horror of the transatlantic trafficking of their people, chattel slavery, and Jim Crow. We are indebted to their labor and their sacrifice, and we must acknowledge the tremors of that violence throughout the generations and the resulting impact that can still be felt and witnessed today.
Please take a moment to reflect on the labor of our ancestors.
SCHEDULE
MARCH 1ST
PROFESSIONAL PANELISTS
LARAMIE TAYLOR (HE/HIM/HIS)
Dr. Taylor is a professor of Communication at UC Davis and a lifelong educator. Dr. Taylor's research focuses on how media messages affect issues of identity, relationships, and wellbeing.
PETER MURPHY (HE/HIM/HIS)
Peter Murphy is the Outreach Manager for the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. He began his work for the MHASF in 2015 on the Warm Line, an aspect of MHASF he still holds in high regard as the heart of the agency. The Warm Line is a 24/7 support line where individuals can access emotional support by being paired with a trained peer counselor. The MHASF also provides access to support groups to help individuals find comfort in community. Within his career in community mental health, Peter believes strongly that “being a peer in mental health means being an advocate”.
ZACH PSICK (HE/HIM/HIS)
Zach Psick is cofounder of We Are All Students, We Are All Neighbors, and We Are All Leaders. The overlapping initiatives are aimed, respectively, at spreading information and inspiration about mass incarceration online, developing non-traditional leaders, and providing high quality affordable housing for formerly incarcerated college students. His work is grounded in a commitment to the reform and abolition of unjust and ineffective policies, practices, and institutions; community empowerment; and transparent and accountable government and leadership. He previously taught and conducted research at UC Davis on subjects including law, crime, violence, addiction, and mental illness.
RACHANA RAGHAVENDRA (SHE/HER/HERS)
Rachana is a 3rd year cognitive science and chemistry double major. She is passionate about health equity and one day hopes to be a doctor. In her free time, she enjoys talking to people, reading and working out. She is excited to share her experiences with you all today!
GABI TAPIA (SHE/HER/HERS)
Gabi Tapia is a third-year psychology major with a minor in Chicanx studies. She identifies as Mexican-American or Chicana. Having faced struggles with mental health, she understands the feeling of being trapped in your own mind. Through various treatments, she continues to improve. Mental health is vital to her, and she believes it should be discussed more openly—taking care of our minds is crucial.
MARK SHEN (HE/HIM/HIS)
Mark is a first year transfer student focusing on Psychology Before transferring to UC Davis, he served as Vice President of Student Health at his community college, working to challenge stigma and improve access to mental health care. Mark focuses on community outreach, bringing his knowledge to under-resourced areas and advocating for mental health awareness as essential to community well-being.
DANIEL ANDRES MOJICA (HE/HIM/HIS)
Daniel is a 4th year undergrad studying political science and psychology! He is from Oxnard down in socal and loves the beach. Some more fun facts about him are that he loves to spin fire, build legos, watch movies, listen to music, and attend punk shows. He is his own favorite person and loves to take himself on adventures.
CRYSANNA MACIEL (SHE/HER/HERS)
Crysanna is a 1st generation student majoring in cinema and digital media and is pursuing a minor in global studies. She currently serves as a member of the Sexual Assault Awareness Advocacy Committee as well as a videographer for ASUCD's Aggie Studios.
JOHANNAH SEAH (SHE/HER/HERS)
Johannah is an Asian American Studies and Sociology double major who is passionate about the intersections of mental health and systems of oppression, as well as how experiences of race and gender inform mental health care and advocacy.
STUDENT PANELISTS
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP SESSION 1
Intersectionality and LGBTQIA+ Mental Health (Ballroom A)
Charlie Hutchinson, Savannah
VandenBos, & Jace Vartan
This presentation explores how intersectionality shapes the mental health needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals, focusing on overlapping identities like race, ethnicity, and disability. The session highlights strategies for culturally competent care, resilience-building, and advocating for systemic change to support diverse identities.
Intergenerational Trauma, Resilience, and Collective Healing (Ballroom B)
Kini Chang
This workshop explores intergenerational trauma, its origins, and healing pathways, focusing on cultural, familial, historical, and racial factors. Participants will gain insights into the transmission of trauma across generations, including the role of epigenetics, and learn evidence-based strategies for fostering collective healing and resilience.
Caucus: Rethinking Neurodivergence in Schools & Mental Health (Ballroom C)
A&P Team: Moabi Levkovitz, Nandini
Datta, Iha Rastogi, Angela Felix
Neurodivergence refers to variations in mental or neurological abilities, including conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, and autism, and emphasizes diverse ways of thinking and interacting. This caucus advocates for inclusive policies, addressing systemic barriers and promoting tailored support systems in education, mental health, and employment for neurodivergent individuals.
WORKSHOP SESSION 2
Art as Therapy, Self-expression, and Socializing (Ballroom A)
Art Club: Samuel Cervantes
Feeling stressed from long work hours, rising costs, and the weight of global issues? Why not draw a cute dog and join others who want to create, share, and find joy together?
Whether you're a seasoned artist or haven't drawn in years, pick up a pencil and make something—it’ll bring you happiness and connect you with a supportive community.
Destressing with Aromatherapy (Ballroom B)
Blooms for Benefit: Samara Dixon
An engaging and informative workshop to discuss the benefits of aromatherapy!
Yoga for Mental Wellness: The Mind-Body Connection (Ballroom C)
Living Well: Mary Sayer
A 50-minute Vinyasa style class for all levels focusing on aligning breath to movement and building a mind-body connection.
The Lounge Lizards, UC Davis's oldest a cappella group, perform at campus and local events, showcasing favorites from MJ to Beyoncé. Their annual concert, No Instruments Attached, in March features groups from across the state for a night of great music.
EKHO is a K-pop dance team at UC Davis, aiming to promote dance and Korean culture while providing a supportive environment for growth. We showcase our talents through dance covers and live performances, fostering diversity, teamwork, and unity within our team and online community.
HEALING SPACES
INTERACTIVE
The Spokes are the premier all-female-identifying a cappella group at UC Davis. Since being founded in 2004 by Cameron Ochs and Jaclyn Fromer, this group has served as a source of inspiration and empowerment for women and girls all over the West Coast.
A fun, hands-on space designed to provide attendees with a creative escape whenever they need a break during the conference. This space encourages self-expression and relaxation through engaging activities such as painting, bracelet-making, slime-making, and doodling. Whether attendees want to unleash their creativity, de-stress through tactile activities, or simply take a moment for themselves, this interactive space offers a fun and rejuvenating experience in a welcoming and supportive environment.
CALMING
A peaceful and ambient space where attendees can step away from the energy of the conference to find stillness and clarity. This space offers a calming atmosphere for meditation, journaling, and self-reflection. Soft lighting, comfortable seating, and soothing elements create a healing environment, allowing attendees to center themselves, process their thoughts, and recharge before returning to the event feeling refreshed and grounded.
RESOURCEFAIR
Empower Yolo
Empower Yolo provides twenty-four hour crisis intervention, emergency shelter, confidential counseling, training, legal assistance, and other services for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and child abuse. We provide resource centers for community services to improve the health, social, educational and economic outcomes of Yolo County residents.
Aggie House
Aggie House is a completely student-run transitional housing shelter. Aggie House provides rent-free housing, meals, and case management services to UC Davis students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity (e.g., difficulty paying rent, couchsurfing, living in a car, etc.)
The
Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center
At the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center, students are empowered to build community while learning about basic needs resources, such as financial aid assistance, sources of nutritional food, and support during emergency housing situations.
Living Well
Living Well offers a range of exercise opportunities. Come As You Are and join us for group exercise, small group training, dance, martial arts, personal training, and more! Living Well also hosts free nutrition consultations and offers other resources for students, faculty, staff, and members of the Davis community.
NAMI at UC Davis
Our organization holds weekly meetings to help members freely discuss mental health in a safe space. Our meetings either include activities that help students destress (such as venting sessions, origami making, etc.), or bring in speakers to educate our members about mental health resources. We also give our members opportunities outside of the club to get involved with NAMI YOLO County and other mental health organizations.
Mindpath College Health
Mindpath College Health offers college students opportunities for growth through therapy, medication management, and collaboration.
Paul Hom Asian Clinic
Paul Hom Asian Clinic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to be the oldest continuously operating Asian clinic in the United States. We are dedicated to providing free, linguistically and culturally sensitive healthcare to underserved and uninsured Asian populations in Sacramento. While we specialize in serving the Asian community, we warmly welcome patients of all backgrounds. Our clinic offers a wide range of primary and specialty care services, including psychiatry, hepatitis, diabetes, cardiopulmonary, women's health, and more. Additionally, we assist qualifying patients obtain health insurance and access low-cost prescription medications. Driven by a dedicated team of health professionals, medical and PA students, and undergraduate Patient Advocates, we honor Dr. Paul Hom’s legacy of compassion and service. Visit us to learn more about how we can support your healthcare needs and connect you to essential resources in our community.
LGBTQIA Resource Center
Our organization holds weekly meetings to help members freely discuss mental health in a safe space. Our meetings either include activities that help students destress (such as venting sessions, origami making, etc.), or bring in speakers to educate our members about mental health resources. We also give our members opportunities outside of the club to get involved with NAMI YOLO County and other mental health organizations.
Soluna
A service for 13 – 25 year olds, powered by Kooth Digital Health. Soluna is an innovative virtual behavioral health program, developed through a collaboration between the California Department of Health Care Services and Kooth (that’s us!). Launched January 2024, Soluna will provide youth and young adults (ages 13 – 25) with immediate access to a comprehensive mental health toolkit, community support, resources, journaling, and personal coaching – all at no cost to the user.
The Beautiful Mind Project
The Beautiful Mind Project aims to start discussions about mental health within the Muslim and marginalized communities through guest speakers, socials, and healing spaces. Mental health discourse is incredibly significant within our community, yet excessively stigmatized as unimportant or foreign. We hope to raise awareness about this topic in the lens of spirituality and self growth and advocate for health holistically. We have hosted painting socials, destress healing circles, tea parties, and are hoping to start a sister’s support group.
Willow Clinic
The mission of the Willow Clinic is to holistically improve the health of community members who are currently living outside or experiencing homelessness while providing a unique platform for student education. We strive to address inequities in healthcare access by operating a free clinic each Saturday. Community members regardless of documentation, or insurance status, can seek medical and psychiatric care as well as a host of other services. We utilize a patient-centered care approach where we prioritize listening to and learning from our community members to best incorporate harm reduction and trauma informed care in our clinic.
Health Education and Promotion
Health Education & Promotion (HEP) uses a health equity lens to foster environments, institutional practices and a campus culture that promote student well-being and academic success. We envision a campus where student health and well-being intentionally embedded throughout UC Davis. We intentionally center these values in all of our work: evidence-informed action, social justice, student-centricity, collaboration, traumaInformed practice. Come visit our office for free resources such as safer sex products, Narcan, fentanyl testing strips and helmets!
They are a nonprofit cultivating peer leadership, building community, and advancing social justice in mental health. Mental Health Association of SF
UC Davis Student Foundation
The UC Davis Student Foundation (a.k.a. “Aggies Helping Aggies” or “AHA”) supports campus programs and resources that improve the UC Davis student experience which is often made possible by philanthropic support from alumni, friends and fellow students.
AHA is comprised of a board of student trustees who primarily raise money for three philanthropic programs that directly benefit undergraduates: Student Emergency Relief Aid (SERA) program, Cap & Gown Award, and Senior Class Challenge.
Aggie Mental Health
The Aggie Mental Health Ambassador (AMHA) program is coordinated by the Division of Student Affairs and is composed of ~30 undergraduate students. AMHAs educate about mental health and well-being resources, encourage peers to take care of themselves and our community, and communicate well-being behaviors. They can be found floating around campus or tabling at the MU, Silo, or special events. Be sure to stop by and chat with them to see what mental health resources and tips are available to you. Finding your community at UC Davis can be hard, but AMHAs can help you find your way.
CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM
@UCDMENTALHEALTHINITIATIVE
FOR MORE STUDENT RESOURCES
Gender Health Center
The Gender Health Center (GHC) is a trans and BIPOC-led non-profit organization located in Sacramento, CA dedicated to the health, wellness, and joy of transgender, non-binary and gender expansive communities. The GHC offers a wide range of free or low-cost, low-barrier services to the community, including a free hormone clinic, mental health counseling, support groups and cultural programs, harm reduction, legal assistance, healthcare navigation, case management, resource referrals, and education and training.
Connected Clinic
CONNECTED is a medication management and support group for pregnant and postpartum women living with mood and anxiety disorders. We strive to promote the development and delivery of healthy infants by treating and supporting the emotional well being of the mother. Through education, advocacy, supportive therapy and medication management, our goal is to provide a supplemental adjunct to the existing perinatal care of individuals with mood disorders.
Together for Wellness/Center for Reducing Health Disparities, UC
Davis Health
The UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities (CRHD) takes a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to the inequities in health access and quality of care. This includes a comprehensive program for research, education and teaching, and community outreach and information dissemination. One such program run under the Center is Together for Wellness/Juntos por Nuestro Bienestar, which is a collective of youth, parents, researchers, and community-based organizations aiming to create a "digital mental wellness toolkit" - including apps, videos, websites, and articles - for use by youth across California. We do so by directly engaging with youth and teens (ages 13-25) in discussions around mental wellness literacy and the process of website development.
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