‘No shame’: webinars aim to destigmatize mental health

“Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind” is a webinar series that combines scientific research and spirituality to engage the Chapman community about practicing mindfulness. Graphic courtesy of Jay Kumar.

To assuage the social and emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fish Interfaith Center has designed a series of programs to support counseling and spiritual guidance for students, faculty and staff.

The Healthy Minds Network and the American College Health Association conducted a survey to determine the effects of COVID-19 on different testing variables. The results found a higher proportion of students during the pandemic who faced financial stress, uncertainty about their personal safety and security and a difficulty in accessing mental health care – all of which were reported to subsequently affect academic performance. 

Among the initiatives to prioritize student mental health at Chapman is “Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind,” a webinar series hosted by Sanjay Kumar, the director of Contemplative Practices and Wellbeing. The program is a weekly event that began in March, following the remote transition that took place in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., students, staff, faculty and others outside of Chapman University can join a Zoom meeting where Kumar hosts Q&A sessions and offers advice to promote mental and spiritual health and mindfulness. Episodes are recorded and made available to the public, with upcoming topics including “Unity in Community.”

While it initially began as part of the Chapman Hope initiative in March, following the sudden transition to remote learning, the project is now run by the Health and Wellness campaign.

“‘Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind’ came out of necessity from Chapman administrators, Human Resources and Student Affairs to help people navigate through this time of crisis and uncertainty,” Kumar said. “The first thing is to help students recognize that there’s no shame and stigma in talking about your mental health.”

Kumar, who has been teaching a “Happiness: Exploring Its Spiritual & Rational Foundations” course at Chapman for the past 10 years, told The Panther that he designed the webinar based on his experience in teaching and research in his book, “Science of a Happy Brain: Thriving in the Age of Anger, Anxiety and Addiction.”

“I’m integrating practical and proven strategies that entail current, cutting-edge brain science research,” Kumar said. “This is applied with spiritual wisdom to provide practical applications to help people develop a healthy brain and healthy mind.”

Yasmeen Pardo, a first-year graduate student studying Marriage and Family Therapy, said the webinar offers a safe space to discuss topics like grief and sadness that aren’t normalized in everyday conversation.

“A series like this helps me view the world with a balanced perspective and the mindset to keep moving, regardless of what happens,” Pardo said. “Especially in this time of turmoil, it is important for me to learn to develop coping strategies and practice mindfulness.”

Students are able to seek additional on-campus resources through the Fish Interfaith Center and Wellness Project. Services like Student Psychological Counseling Services reinforce the message that no student needs to be alone, according to Pardo.

“My hope is that students will come to realize there’s a community that will hold us up and help us to cope and be resilient despite the challenges we encounter,” Pardo said.

Chapman’s Health and Wellness initiative entails an eight-dimension strategy that works toward meeting specific needs of mental, financial, intellectual, physical, social, occupational, spiritual and environmental wellness. For Sravya Cherukuri, a senior strategic and corporate communication major, a healthy mind involves knowing one’s purpose. 

“When it comes to awareness, it means a lot to me to acknowledge and find a balance between my expectations and my failures, especially in such a competitive academic environment,” Cherukuri said. “I want to embrace the challenges while still making my health a priority.”