In March, LASA gathered to learn more about public health – with a focus on mental health. We welcomed Kristen Choi, PhD, MS, RN from UCLA, a child/adolescent psychiatric nurse and health services researcher. She combines patient care with training of student nurses and public health related research. After sharing her journey to her present job, she generously answered so many of LASA’s questions.
Olivia reflected that “Choi’s insights allowed me to see how health is politicized, but this time from a local scale. Public spaces to treat mental health are sparse—lack of school counselors, psychiatrists, insurance—are overlooked due to the higher level of focus doctors put onto the physical aspects of COVID. However, I do believe that mental health must be more invested in, as mental health is just as crucial as physical health, and can even affect physical health.” Jonah added, “The human mind is so complex, that past traumas can have real long term ripple effects in the way that the body functions. For this reason, it’s very refreshing to see doctors actually paying attention and being mindful of that aspect of our health.”
And as always, LASA emerged with new questions and pathways for further research: How can the city/county implement mental health help throughout, aside from adding more funding to clinics and counselors? What “are the boundaries of implementing assistance in cities, especially in public spaces?” What more could be done to support mental health within schools? Then, LASA prepared to welcome April’s speaker who we believe will be able to speak to a wide range of issues affecting Los Angeles, from those we have already touched on so far as well as new topics like transportation.