By Robert Hood

Students and postdocs working and studying in a high-pressure environment like UC San Francisco can sometimes face mental health challenges. Now, thanks to a program developed by the Mental Health Coalition (MHC) and funded through a Community Well-being Grant funded by Wellness and Community, access to mental health resources is expanding.

A trainee-led initiative, in collaboration with the Bakar ImmunoX Initiative, Dragonfly Mental Health and UCSF Wellness and Community, is working to fight the stigma around mental health in high-achieving populations, such as graduate students and postdocs; to raise awareness of available mental health resources to increase access; and to encourage allyship amongst peers.

"Through the work MHC is doing, we’re hoping to raise awareness of mental health resources, increase access whenever possible, and encourage allyship within the UCSF community by creating spaces for talking, listening, and learning," said Wendy Hung, a Biomedical Sciences graduate student and founder of MHC.

Hung and the MHC team focused on key pillars, including:

• Monthly mental health seminars focusing on mental health literacy, imposter syndrome and overcoming burnout.
• Bi-weekly support group meetings where members participated in coaster painting, yarn art, and puzzles.
• Organizing the annual symposium which included a faculty panel on mental health in academia with an art reception featuring works by the UCSF community.

Not surprisingly, the COVID pandemic provided challenges and several in-person events had to be cancelled. But despite the hurdles, the three primary programming activities – monthly mental health seminars, biweekly peer-led support group meetings, and an annual "Scientists Outside of Science" event – continued.

The monthly seminars were conducted in collaboration with Dragonfly Mental Health, a non-profit founded by academics. "They provide educational seminars specifically tailored to the academic community," Hung said. "These regular seminars provided enough dedicated time for attendees to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms and to gain an understanding of the variety of tools and approaches to manage, and even overcome, the mental health challenges discussed."

The bi-weekly peer-led support group meetings helped connect newer graduate students with students in the later years of training to help form personal support networks. Hung said social activities such as arts and crafts were integrated into the meetings to help students de-stress.

"More than anything, during these events, we found the power of celebrating our small victories together," she said. "While these events are not intended to replace more formal interventions for trainees struggling with diagnosable mental health conditions, we found hosting and attending these events provided an opportunity to share openly in a safe and supportive space and this was a therapeutic experience."

The group also organized the "Scientists Outside of Science" event featuring a faculty panel on mental health in academia and an art gallery showcasing community-submitted photos illustrating the UCSF community in activities outside of science.

"The faculty panel allowed us to see that successful scientists at all levels of the academic hierarchy have experienced, and continue to experience, mental health challenges big and small," Hung said. "Since the event, both students and PIs have reached out to thank us and the participating faculty for their open and honest engagement and willingness to share their mental health journeys."

The photo exhibit was designed to recognize talents and hobbies of participants and to encourage the community to value time spent doing things outside of science. "During the reception, trainees were able to explore dimensions of one another beyond what they see on campus and connect around the critical need for balance."

Hung said the MHC team will continue their efforts to destigmatize mental health in academia in the upcoming years. “We thank the Well-being Grant for providing the support for our founding year.”