Schedule and Session Descriptions

9:15-9:45 a.m., Check in, Tangeman University Center (TUC) 4^th Floor Lobby

10-11 a.m., Breakout Session #1 

• Building Better Boundaries: Taking Care So You Can Be Your Best Self 427
• In Our Own Voice: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 415
• Addicted to Numbing Mental Illness 423
• Imposter Syndrome 417
• Navi-gay-ting Grad School: An LGBTQ+ Grad Student Panel (Session #1 ONLY) 419 
• QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Certification (10 a.m.-12:15 p.m.) 425

11-11:15 a.m., Break

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Breakout Session #2 

• Building Better Boundaries: Taking Care So You Can Be Your Best Self 427
• In Our Own Voice: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 415
• Addicted to Numbing Mental Illness 423  
• Imposter Syndrome 417
• Black in the Ivory (Session #2 ONLY) 419 
• Continued, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Certification 425

12:15-1:45 p.m., Lunch & Activities:     

• Lunch, TUC Great Hall 465
• Resource Tables, TUC Great Hall 465
• Self Care Activities:
  • Bracelets/Valentine Cards 415
  • Therapy Dogs 417
  • Mediation 425
  • Yoga 427

1:45-2:45 p.m., Sessions #3

• Helping the Helpers: Avoiding Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Vicarious Trauma in a Helping Profession 427
• Beyond Borders: Nurturing Mental Health and Careers for International Students 419
• Self-Compassion and Mindfulness 423
• Navigating Difficult Conversations with your Advisor and Other Asymmetrical Power Relationships 417
• Students of Color Panel (Session #3 ONLY) 415
• QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Certification (1:45-4 p.m.) 425

2:45-3 p.m., Break

3-4 p.m., Sessions #4

• Helping the Helpers: Avoiding Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Vicarious Trauma in a Helping Profession 427
• Beyond Borders: Nurturing Mental Health and Careers for International Students 419
• Self-Compassion and Mindfulness 423
• Navigating Difficult Conversations with your Advisor and Other Asymmetrical Power Relationships 417  
• Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (Session #4 ONLY) 415
• Continued, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Certification 425   

4 p.m., Check Out, Evaluation

Boundaries are necessary for all of us to live life fully and effectively! We see physical boundaries all around us - from painted lines on the pavement, traffic lights, business opening/closing times, holiday closures, etc. - but psychological, emotional, and relational boundaries can seem a bit more complicated. This interactive one-hour session is designed for graduate students at The University of Cincinnati to learn about boundaries and reflect on their own boundaries. This session will incorporate lectures, small group discussions, and worksheets to explore the topic of boundaries. 

Join us for a conversation with three current graduate students as they discuss their experience navigating graduate school as an LGBTQ+ student. Hear directly from fellow graduate students about finding a welcoming community on and off campus, the most helpful advice they've received for graduate school, and how they have maintained their mental health and wellness. Open to all students! Bring your own questions!

Addiction and mental health often go hand-in-hand: 83% of people with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health issue. But addiction goes beyond substance use, and behavioral addictions (such as gambling, porn, and social media) are on the rise. Hear from Dr. Christopher Tuell, Clinical Director of Addiction Services at the Lindner Center of HOPE, on the complex relationship between substance use, behavioral addiction, and mental health. 

NAMI’s In Our Own Voice presentation changes attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes about people with mental health conditions. The presentations combine a video in three parts along with two NAMI trained presenters who talk about their mental health journey. It provides a personal perspective of mental illness, as presenters with lived experience talk openly about what it's like to live with a mental health condition. Our presenters humanize the misunderstood, highly stigmatized topic of mental illness by showing that it's possible—and common—to live well and achieve their goals with a mental health condition.

This workshop focuses on tangible strategies to identify the “four P’s” of imposter syndrome and how to manage their feelings constructively. We will look at the graduate school systems and identify resources that may support students in combating the misconception associated with imposter syndrome.

Sometimes being the “only" can have detrimental effects on your well-being. Isolation, loneliness, depression, inefficacy, and confusion are just some of the battles one might face when managing their Black identity as a racial minority at a Primarily White Institution (PWI). In Black in the Ivory, three graduate students discuss challenges Black students may face in their graduate education experience at a PWI. Students will share concerns, challenges, triumphs and resources when it comes to finding support and community, as well as, managing microaggressions and institutional racism. This session will be facilitated by Dr. Oneya Okuwobi, an expert on diversity labor and its effects on organizations and communities of color. 

Whether you have no idea what this new buzzword even means or practice mindfulness every day, Meriden's lively and interactive workshop will teach you tools you can use as soon as you leave. Mindfulness is not just meditating in a silent room! You will learn what else it can look like and learn how it can help you live a healthier, happier, and more stress-free life! 

The intricate relationship between mental health and career development for international students in the U.S., with a focus on fostering resilience, enhancing support structures, and nurturing their holistic growth. We aim to bolster the mental well-being of international students, ensuring it becomes a cornerstone of their academic and professional journeys

Helping professionals dedicate their lives to supporting and nurturing the wellbeing of others, yet face some of the highest rates of burnout in the professional world. Why are so many helpers burning out, and what can we do to avoid the same fate? In this panel discussion, hear from helpers across the industry about compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, avoiding burnout, and how to effecitvely practice self-care to prioritize your wellness. Panel members include: 

• Whayne Herriford, LPCC-S, Counselor at Flourish Psychotherapy and owner of Whayne Herriford Counseling
• Christin McIlwain, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of A Purposeful Path Counseling
• Libbey Ketterer, LCSW, Associate clinician at The Anxiety Center
• Dr. Amber Irwin, DNP, APRN-CNP, MSN, PMHNP-BC, BSN, RN, Assistant Professor at the UC College of Nursing

Having conversations where there is a power imbalance can be difficult, and these conversations often take place as we navigate the rigor of graduate programs. In addition to learning some coping strategies on managing potential stress from these conversations from: Kea Brown, PsyD, staff clinician, UC Counseling and Psychological Servies; Mark Baccei, Ph.D., Professor, Anesthesiology, College of Medicine; Theresa Culley, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences; Daniel Weeks, M.M., Associate Professor of Voice, Interim Division Head of Performance Studies, College Conservatory of Music

Join a Students of Color Panel discussion on the unique mental health challenges faced by students of color. Our diverse panelists will share their personal experiences and insights on navigating mental wellness in different cultural contexts. This event is an open forum for everyone to engage in a frank conversation about mental health. Bring your questions and feel free to share your experiences in a supportive and understanding environment.

This talk will review causes of stress, the impact of stress on the body and provide an introduction to PTSD. The presenter will talk about the biology behind PTSD and review the best treatments for PTSD. Myths and Facts will be reviewed for reducing stress and receiving behavioral health care. Hear from Kate Chard, PhD, Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Director of Trauma Recovery Center, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Director UC Stress Center, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience. 

Become certified for two years in QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training.  QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people are trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives eacy year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. 

*Note: this is a double-session training, and both sessions must be completed for certification.