Thursday, April 5th
5:30pm
Center for Identity + Inclusion Community Lounge
Dinner
6:00pm - 6:30pm
Opening & Welcome
The UChicago Student Counseling Services Introduction will provide an overview of the services offered at SCS, as well as the center’s general approach to mental health treatment. The introduction will cover what students can expect during their first appointment at SCS, and what they can expect in subsequent appointments. Time will be provided to answer any questions that audience members may have about the services offered at SCS, or about how to access the services at SCS.
6:30pm - 7:00pm
Looking for Luke Screening
Looking for Luke is a short documentary that follows the parents of Luke Tang, a well-liked, passionate, and brilliant Harvard sophomore, as they attempt to understand why their son died by suicide. By reading through journals and talking to his friends, Luke’s parents begin to piece together what happened through the gained knowledge and understanding of depression as a treatable mental illness. Luke’s parents have made it their mission to help other parents identify the signs and signals of depression, and other mental health conditions, that can lead to suicide. The film is an extension of that mission by raising awareness of depression as a treatable illness, and destigmatizing seeking help for mental health issues. The issues the film addresses are of pressing importance and concern for teens and young adults across the country.

7:00pm - 8:00pm
Panel on Mental Health in Asian American Communities
The intersection between mental health and one’s cultural identity has been becoming an increasingly prevalent topic of study and discussion. In a panel led by researchers from UChicago who will drawn upon their own study and experiences, we will discuss the themes and messages from Looking for Luke and the work being done to better grasp the complexities of the relation between Asian identity and mental health.
Panelists

MIWA YASUI, PhD
University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration
Professor Yasui received her undergraduate degrees in Comparative Culture from Sophia University in Tokyo and in Psychology at the University of Oregon, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oregon. She completed her APA-accredited clinical internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research. During her doctoral studies, she examined the role of implicit associations of stigma as a NIMH Development, Emotion, and Psychopathology as a predoctoral trainee and also developed an innovative observational measure of ethnic-racial socialization as a Predoctoral NIMH National Research Service Awardee. Prior to joining SSA, Professor Yasui completed her NIMH Postdoctoral National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship during which she developed a culturally enhanced engagement intervention that integrates observational methodology with cultural sensitive clinical probes to increase treatment engagement among ethnic minority families seeking mental health services. Currently she is a Faculty Scholar for the K12 Patient Centered Outcomes Research Faculty Development Award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Professor Yasui is also a licensed Clinical Psychologist and has been actively engaged in clinical practice during her predoctoral and postdoctoral training.

YOONSUN CHOI, PhD
University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration
Yoonsun Choi is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Service Administration. Her fields of special interest include the impact of race, ethnicity, and culture in youth development. Professor Choi is currently leading a large scale longitudinal survey with Filipino and Korean American families to prevent mental health problems among Asian American youth and young adults.

SEEBA ANAM, MD
University of Chicago Medical Center
Seeba Anam, MD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is a founding member of the University of Chicago Global Mental Health Initiative, a joint effort centered on global dissemination of child and adolescent mental health education. She serves on the steering committee for the University of Chicago Center for Global Health. Additionally, she is an affiliated researcher and advisor for the Center for Asian Health Equity (CAHE)’s Bloom Mental Health Program at the University. She supports CAHE’s programming and research efforts involving culturally informed interventions for Asian immigrants in Chicago. CAHE is a partnership between the University of Chicago and Asian Health Coalition, a non-profit, community-based affiliate that investigate health disparities that disproportionately affect the Asian American, Pacific Islander, and African immigrant populations.
In the past, she has served as an affiliated mentor for the University of California San Francisco Global Mental Health Fellowship, to develop an international training module and syllabus on child and adolescent psychiatry for the global mental health fellows stationed at sites at UCSF and Nepal. She also serves on the Education committee of the international Society for the Study of Culture and Psychiatry, expanding cultural curricula for international mental health training programs. Her primary educational and research interests include dissemination work on global mental health, the impact of culture on mental health, health equity and social determinants of health, specifically related to mental health in Asians and Asian Americans.
SARAH TAYLOR, PsyD
University of Chicago Student Counseling Service
Sarah Taylor, PsyD, is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Student Counseling Center. She obtained her doctorate from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and completed her doctoral internship at UCLA’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Sarah has experience working in a variety of settings, but most enjoys working with university populations. Sarah’s clinical and professional interests include the intersection of identity and mental health concerns, eating disorders, trauma recovery, and working with LGBTQ* identified individuals.
Friday, April 6th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Center for Identity + Inclusion
Breakout Session I
5:00pm - 5:15pm
Break
5:15pm - 6:15pm
Center for Identity + Inclusion and Rosenwald
Breakout Session II
6:30pm - 6:45pm
Closing Remarks and Refreshments
BREAKOUT SESSION I
Lost in Translation: The Importance of Context in Asian Mental Health
Location: CI+I Community Lounge
Seeba Anam, MD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is a founding member of the University of Chicago Global Mental Health Initiative, a joint effort centered on global dissemination of child and adolescent mental health education. She serves on the steering committee for the University of Chicago Center for Global Health. Additionally, she is an affiliated researcher and advisor for the Center for Asian Health Equity (CAHE)’s Bloom Mental Health Program at the University. She supports CAHE’s programming and research efforts involving culturally informed interventions for Asian immigrants in Chicago. CAHE is a partnership between the University of Chicago and Asian Health Coalition, a non-profit, community-based affiliate that investigate health disparities that disproportionately affect the Asian American, Pacific Islander, and African immigrant populations.
In the past, she has served as an affiliated mentor for the University of California San Francisco Global Mental Health Fellowship, to develop an international training module and syllabus on child and adolescent psychiatry for the global mental health fellows stationed at sites at UCSF and Nepal. She also serves on the Education committee of the international Society for the Study of Culture and Psychiatry, expanding cultural curricula for international mental health training programs. Her primary educational and research interests include dissemination work on global mental health, the impact of culture on mental health, health equity and social determinants of health, specifically related to mental health in Asians and Asian Americans.
Mental Health in Asian International Student Communities
Location: CI+I 3rd Floor - LGBTQ Lounge
Tao Liu is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Wheaton College. She is a core faculty member in the Wheaton PsyD program, in which she teaches research and statistics, clinical interview skills, and practicum seminar classes.
Dr. Liu also practices of therapy at Fox Valley Institute, where she provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She has provided bilingual services in English and Mandarin in a variety of settings, including a domestic violence shelter, a community mental health counseling center, and two university counseling centers. Dr. Liu works with a number of concerns, yet she feels especially rewarded in working with those struggling with trauma, interpersonal concerns, coping with life and cultural transitions, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and identity development. She has facilitated interpersonal process groups and cultural adjustment groups for international students.
Dr. Liu received her first master’s degree in Child and Family Studies from The University of Tennessee, and her second master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College. She completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington.
Seeking Support from Friends and Family
BREAKOUT SESSION II
Mental Health in Asian American Christian Communities
Dr. Sandra Yu Rueger is an Associate Professor in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Wheaton College. She graduated from Northwestern University and went on to Wheaton College for her Master’s degree in clinical psychology. After working as a licensed marriage and family therapist for more than 15 years, she earned her doctorate in psychology from Northern Illinois University, and received advanced training in child and family therapy at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago) and substance abuse at The University of Chicago. As a clinician, Dr. Rueger is licensed in both clinical psychology and marriage and family therapy, and specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy for mood and anxiety disorders, family-based interventions for depression, and parent management training for child behavior problems. Dr. Rueger is also the director of the Youth Risk and Resilience lab at Wheaton College. Her research interests include factors that can help or hinder efforts to cope with stress, with a special focus on differences across gender and ethnic/racial groups. Dr. Rueger and students in her research lab are committed to increasing understanding and awareness of mental health needs in Asian American communities, and developing culturally-sensitive interventions to meet the needs of Asian American youth and families.
Yoonsun Pyun, M.A., received her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wheaton College and currently works at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She loves working with children and adolescents, and has a heart especially for immigrant families who are dealing with challenges related to acculturation, intergenerational relationships, and mental health and well-being. She desires to raise awareness and understanding for mental health issues among Asian American communities and be a bilingual resource for individuals, families, and communities.
Jacqueline Chen, M.A., is currently in her last year at Wheaton College in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program. She is completing her internship at Meier Clinics focusing on pediatric neuropsychology and Lawndale Christian Health Center as a Behavioral Health Provider. Jackie's interests involve working with children and adolescents, people dealing with neurological disorders, and marginalized populations. Her dissertation focuses on strengthening Asian American parent-child relationships through developing parenting interventions that help address intergenerational and acculturation-related conflicts.
Mad Maps: Navigating Oppression and Trauma Emotional Terrains
Location: CI+I 3rd floor - LGBTQ Lounge
Alternative Medicine for Mental Health
Location: CI+I Community Lounge
DBT Workshop: Skills for Managing Distress Related to Invalidation
Location: Rosenwald 015
Persons who encounter invalidating interactions experience heightened levels of distress. The sense of being delegitimized can result in persons questioning their perceptions and perspective on these interactions and even their own value. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) defines invalidating environments as contexts in which the communication suggests that the recipient’s perspective, emotions and opinions are inappropriate, inaccurate and/or unfounded.
In this presentation, Dr. Holmes will introduce participants to four sets of DBT skills useful in coping with distress and empowering them as they manage experiences of invalidation. These include mindfulness, distress management, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness.
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Paul Holmes has wide-ranging experience working with individuals who experience complex distress. He received extensive clinical training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) from the Linehan Training Group as well as instruction in training other clinicians. He has particular interest in implementing DBT from a contextual behavior perspective. His current research interests include understanding the role of mindfulness in emotional regulation, developing a model of affect dysregulation applicable beyond Borderline Personality Disorder, and integrating DBT services into high school systems for students at-risk.
Dr. Holmes is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration (SSA). In addition to teaching at SSA, he conducts numerous workshops and provides clinical consultation for both public and private sector mental health professionals.
Finally, Dr. Holmes is founder and director of the Emotion Management Program LLC, a private practice that uses contextual behavioral therapies including Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Saturday April 7th
11:00am - 1:00pm
Reynolds Club R001
Mental Health Crisis Workshop
Alternatives to Calling Police in Mental Health Crises is a a community-based movement to train people in de-escalation techniques and provide alternatives for mentally ill and psychiatrically disabled community members to calling the police in mental health crises.The workshop intends to ask and discuss questions:
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How do marginalized identities intersect during mental health crises and how does this affect treatment by police?
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What are the ways to support people in mental health crises?
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How can we take care of ourselves and others?
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How can we create a community of support?
Workshop Speakers
Miguel Rodriguez is a member of People’s Response Team and anti-criminalization advocate. He currently serves as a Restorative Justice Specialist, collaborating with schools to build up Restorative Justice Practices in classrooms and discipline process. He is a parent, a lover, and transforms into a visual artist on his free time.
Timmy Rose is a member of People’s Response Team and a prison abolitionist. He is currently a law student at Chicago Kent College of Law, working to further bridge grassroots movements with transformative legal advocacy.
Euree Kim is a disability activist, artist, and organizer and works with different disability advocacy groups and organizations in Chicago to create safer environment for disability communities. They proudly identify as queercrip: they are genderqueer femme, Autistic and mentally ill. Their hope is to envision alternative, sustainable system of support which does not replicate capitalistic and ableist model with communities of people.