 Prevalence of depression and anxiety
 Recognizing warning signs
 Obtaining help
 What to do in crisis situations
 Other resources
 In 2015, an estimated 16.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States had
at least one major depressive episode in the past year
 Represents 6.7% of all U.S. adults (SAMHSA, 2015) in any given year
 The estimated lifetime prevalence of any anxiety disorder is over 15%
 12-month prevalence is more than 10% (Kessler et al., 2009)
 UC Graduate Student Well-Being Survey (2016)
 Over one-third (35%, n=1,782) of respondents reported symptoms indicative of clinical
depression, representing about 16,000 graduate students total
 Ph.D. students have lower life satisfaction than Master’s and Professional students and
exhibit higher levels of depressive symptoms
 About 47% of Ph.D. students reach the threshold considered depressed
 Between 43-46% of graduate students in Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences,
Engineering and “Other Professional” score as depressed
 Students in the biological sciences appear to be faring more poorly than those in the
physical sciences and engineering:
 Average depression score is slightly higher and career optimism score is lower (4.1 versus 4.7)
 Biological science students also appear to be more worried about money than the rest of their
science classmates
 Career prospects shown to be the most important factor in predicting life satisfaction,
followed by
 overall health, social support, financial confidence and living conditions.
 Program climate, academic progress, academic preparation, mentorship and advising, skipped
meals and sleep hours are also important predictors of life satisfaction.
 Overall health is the most important factor in predicting depression, followed by
 academic preparation, career prospects, social support and sleep hours.
 Skipped meals, program climate, academic progress and financial confidence are also
important predictors of depression.
 Living conditions are a significant predictor of depression for respondents in
professional fields and STEM.
 Mentorship and advising a significant predictor for respondents in STEM.
(UC Graduate Student Well-Being Survey, 2016)
 Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
 Loss of interest or pleasure in fun activities
 Weight loss (when not dieting) or gain; decrease or increase in appetite
 Insomnia or Hypersomnia
 Feeling agitation or sluggishness
 Feeling fatigue or low energy
 Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
 Difficulty with thinking, concentrating, or indecisiveness
 Thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
• Excessive worry with no specific source
• Exaggerated startle reflex
• Inability to sleep due to worrying
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble controlling worrying thoughts
• Being easily fatigued
• Muscle tension
• Feeling that things will always end badly
• Always feeling on edge
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013)
 Behavioral Symptoms:
Isolating from others, using more alcohol or other substances, teeth
clenching,
 Physical Symptoms:
Headaches, g/i distress, neck and back aches,
 Emotional Symptoms:
Feeling sad, weepiness, feeling irritable and angry, feeling numb, loss of
enjoyment in pleasurable activities
Level 3: Could use assistance
Level 2: Struggling
Level 1: On-track
When your symptoms are really
bothering you:
Symptoms indicating you are having difficulty
coping:
Optimal Functioning:
OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING.
PRACTICE SKILLS AND TOOLS LEARNED TO COPE
WITH SYMPTOMS. INCREASE SELF-CARE AND
WELL-BEING ACTIVITIES.
Using skills and tools at Level 2 can prevent going to Level 3.
What changes can you make when you are beginning a difficult time (Level 2)?
1.
2.
3.
REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT.
SEEK HELP FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY, CAMPUS
RESOURCES, THERAPIST, DOCTOR, ETC.
Just notice your breath
Breathe in through your nose and out through
your mouth
Breathe in for a count of four, hold; and exhale
for a count of four
 Commitment
 The DGSOM Dean’s office is committed to ensuring that medical students, DGSOM
graduate students, residents and fellows have mental health services while in training
 Resources
 Graduate education and medical training can be stressful, therefore trainees can benefit
from resources
 Team
 Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC) will provide students with a team including,
psychiatrists, psychologists and a social worker
 Accessibility
 We are located in the Center for Health Sciences, and have clinicians available for early
morning, daytime and evening sessions
 Psychiatric consultation
 Short-term individual psychotherapy
 Information about community based services and resources
 Group therapy
 Services rendered through Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC) are covered by
insurance and co-pays have been waived
 Student calls Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC) and provides insurance
information
 Intake is scheduled and completed
 Mental health coordinator determines clinician assignment and sets first
appointment with student
 Student returns for first appointment
 Student begins psychotherapy and/or (if indicated) medication management
 Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC) Team continues to follow-up with student to
assess acuity and needs
 Behavioral Wellness Center (BWC) Contact Info
 Phone: 310.825.9605
 Email: [email protected]
 Location: 1st floor of the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences (CHS), room 18-218, 18-212
 Administrative office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with clinicians available for early
morning, daytime and evening sessions
BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS CENTER LOCATION
CHS 18-218
Talk
Behavior
 If a person talks about:
 Increased use of alcohol or drugs 
 Being a burden to others
 Looking for a way to kill
 Feeling trapped
themselves, such as searching
online for materials or means
 Experiencing unbearable pain  Acting recklessly
 Having no reason to live
 Withdrawing from activities
 Killing themselves
 Isolating from family and friends
 Sleeping too much or too little
 Visiting or calling people to say
goodbye
 Giving away prized possessions
 Aggression
Mood
People who are considering
suicide often display one or
more of the following moods:
 Depression
 Loss of interest
 Rage
 Irritability
 Humiliation
 Anxiety
 Have an honest conversation
 If you think someone is thinking about suicide, assume you are the only
one who will reach out
 How to talk to someone who may be struggling with their mental health:
 Talk to them in private
 Listen to their story
 Tell them you care about them
 Ask directly if they are thinking about suicide
 Encourage them to seek treatment or to contact their doctor or therapist
 Avoid debating the value of life, minimizing their problems or giving advice
 If a person says they are considering suicide
 Take the person seriously
 Stay with them
 Help them remove lethal means
 Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
 Text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from
the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7
 Escort them to mental health services or an emergency room
 LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY: CALL 9-1-1 OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY ROOM
 DGSOM Medical and Graduate Students Crisis Resources
 Please refer to UCLA CAPS “Are you in a Crisis” resource page:
http://www.counseling.ucla.edu/Services/Are-you-in-a-Crisis
 DGSOM Residents/Fellows/Medical and Graduate Students Crisis Resources
 National Suicide Prevention Hotline (24 hours): (800) 273-TALK (8255) or chat online
 Crisis Text Line (24 hours): Text 741-741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis.
 Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
(310) 825-9111 Main line
(310) 825-2111 Emergency Department
 Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center:
(310) 391-1253
 Los Angeles County Psychiatric Emergency Team:
(800) 854-7771
 California Medical Association (CMA): Confidential Hotline for Substance Abuse or Psychological
Problems
(213) 383-2691
UCLA CAPS
• One-on-one counseling and comprehensive
behavioral health services
• 24-hour emergency call line, (310) 825-0768
• Non-UCLA Clinic Psychiatrists & herapists
• 6 Free Visits (no insurance or co-pay
required)
• For appointments, call (310) 825-0768
• ADHD Assessment, Support and Treatment
Services
• Location: 221 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles,
CA 90095
http://www.counseling.ucla.edu/
• Group therapy offered at CAPS:
http://www.counseling.ucla.edu/Portals/53/D
ocuments/CAPS%20Brochure%20Fall%20201
6.pdf
Office of Ombuds Services
• Place to go for assistance in resolving
conflicts, disputes or complaints on an
informal basis
• For appointments, call (310) 206-2427
• Location: Strathmore Building Suite 105, 501
Westwood Plaza)
• Office hours 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday or by
appointment
UCLA Gender & Power Abuse
Committee
• Place to speak to committee members about
your concerns
• Committee members informally and
confidentially discuss concerns to give you
suggestions on how to resolve your situation
and discuss what resources are available to you
• Chair: Joyce M. Fried, call (310)794-1958
 See handout for resources including:
 Campus Fitness
 Community Based Programs
 Literature
 Technology (Apps)
 Mindfulness Based Resources
 Positive Psychology
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Kessler, R. C., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Chatterji, S., Lee, S., Ormel, J., … Wang, P. S. (2009).
The global burden of mental disorders: An update from the WHO World Mental
Health (WMH) Surveys. Epidemiologia E Psichiatria Sociale, 18(1), 23–33.
The Graduate Assembly (2014). Graduate Student Happiness & Well-Being Report. Berkeley,
CA: University of California, Berkeley.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2015). National Survey on
Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and
Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
University of California (2016). Graduate Student Well-Being Survey. Berkeley, CA: University
of California Office of the President.
THANK YOU!