This session creates space for students to talk openly about mental health, with topics such as academic pressure, stigma, and access to resources. A panel of experts will answer questions and share their expertise.
The conversation will highlight how mental health connects to overall well-being and challenge common misconceptions, including the idea that people should handle everything on their own or that seeking help is a sign of weakness .The goal is to create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing, asking questions, and learning more about mental health and the support available to them.
Addressing Mental Health
Moderator: Isabella Kidd
Isabella enjoys public speaking and discussing a variety of topics from the meaning of life to current events. She’s currently studying Korean and Thai. She enjoys reading, dancing, and listening to music in her free time.
Speaker: Chris Medina Brown
Chris Medina Brown is a mixed-race, Latino and Polynesian adoptee, born and raised in the East Bay. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and is currently in his third year of private practice as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT). Chris practices at Camphortree Healing Collective, where he provides therapeutic services to individuals from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. In addition to his private practice, Chris is in his second year as an academic instructor at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he teaches future therapists, school counselors, and school psychologists the foundational skills necessary for effective therapeutic practice. He is passionate about supporting and guiding his clients and students through their unique journeys toward healing and growth.
Speaker: Chantel Garrett
Chantel Garrett is the founder of Strong365, dedicated to expanding equitable access to high-quality behavioral healthcare for youth. Her work focuses on advancing early identification and intervention through evidence-based, public health strategies.
They have designed and scaled digital health interventions using human centered design, behavior change theory, and lean product principles, contributing to the evidence base for early intervention. Their background also includes leading growth strategy, driving user acquisition and engagement through digital marketing and community-building, and developing strategic partnerships across healthcare, nonprofit, and private sector organizations.
Committed to advancing health equity, Chantel has a focus on leveraging technology, collaborating with community partners, and addressing social determinants of health to bring effective, scalable solutions to more young people.