Depression on College Campuses Conference to Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Belonging

18th annual conference to feature sessions on LGBTQ+ inclusivity, loneliness, and minority student mental health

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Leaders in student mental health will meet in Ann Arbor on March 18 and 19 as the U-M Depression Center kicks off its 18th annual Depression on College Campuses Conference (DoCC), which is focused on diversity, equity, and belonging.

DoCC 2020 will explore the intersection of identity and mental health. The conference aims to examine how we can work to create and support diverse campus communities that foster equitable opportunity and a sense of belonging among all students.

The conference will be held at the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School in Ann Arbor. Expert guest speakers will discuss new research findings, model programs, and innovative strategies that demonstrate how colleges and universities are adapting to the changing demand for services by implementing distinct and unique approaches to mental health programs. See the agenda here.

The Depression on College Campuses conference is a multi-disciplinary forum for clinicians, researchers, academic advisors, students, faculty, and others from institutions across the country to discuss the latest findings and best practices related to the prevention of depression and its consequences during the college years.

The conference will include a panel discussion, workshops, and concurrent sessions, and two keynote presentations. Featured presentations include:

  • Co-Creating Equitable Access and a Sense of Belonging with LGBTQ+ Students;
  • Survivors on Campus: Using a Theater-based Approach to Develop Campus Cultures that are Inclusive and Supportive of Survivors of Sexual Violence;
  • Let’s Talk About Wellness: Race, Ethnicity, and Wellbeing at a Predominately White Institution;
  • The YBMen Project: Social Media Strategies that Influence and Shape Young Black Men’s Ideas and Experiences with Mental Health; and much more.

The opening keynote will cover “Campus Climate as a Mental Health Equity Issue: Centering the Diverse Experiences of Students of Color” which will be presented by Tabbye Chavous, Ph.D. director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID), and professor of psychology with the University of Michigan. Chavous’ talk will provide a framework for campus climate and how it operates at structural/institutional, social, and interpersonal levels; share examples from local and national research studies that center and illuminate students' experiences of their campus climates; and engage with audience members to better understand how we can create more effective spaces, opportunities for collaboration, and strategies for action.

 “Our sessions cover issues surrounding LGBTQ+ inclusivity, survivors of sexual violence, loneliness, and more,” said Stephanie Salazar, M.P.H., manager for outreach and education at the U-M Depression Center and conference lead. “We invite social workers, health education specialists, student advisors, and students themselves to attend the conference and learn tips for how to improve their campuses and gain a better understanding of the issues facing today’s diverse student population.”

Registration is FREE for students from any campus, but an online registration form is still required. The registration fee for non-students is $185. Members of the media covering the event may register at no cost. Additional information on the conference can be found at: depressioncenter.org/docc.

###

Established in 2001, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center (UMDC) is the first of its kind devoted entirely to bringing depression into the mainstream of medical research, translational care, education, and public policy. The Center is at the forefront in changing the paradigm of how depression and bipolar illnesses are understood and treated. Learn more: depressioncenter.org.