Ananya Khanna
Mariana Montserrat Machaen
Michelle Thai
LISTEN to The LIVE show from February 2022
WISE: The Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology also known as WISE is a new and rising wellness resource for the UCI community after recognizing the greater need for more mental health and wellness resources. We aim to improve and expand upon mental and behavioral health and wellness programming services for the UCI School of Social Ecology students while complementing ongoing campus efforts.
One major project of WISE is the Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology Peer Advisory Collective (WISE PAC): a student-led, student-driven team of individuals within the School of Social Ecology who represent diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, lived experience, ability, and socioeconomic status. All members are driven and passionate people, who want to create real change in wellness and mental health in the UC Irvine community.
As a team, we aim to destigmatize mental illnesses and increase access to mental health uses and resources. As we continue to expand, we hope to have our efforts reach more to not just the students of UCI, but also the community of Orange County.
Michelle Thai is a third year University of California, Irvine student double majoring in Psychological Science and Criminology, Law, and Society. She is part of the Humans of Social Ecology Field Study under WISE and serves as the Director of Marketing and Self Care peer advisor.
Michelle is passionate about supporting people’s wellbeing and I hope to be a mental health counselor for juvenile youth in the future.
Mariana Montserrat Machaen (she/her/hers/ella). She is currently a fourth-year student at the University of California, Irvine. Mariana is currently majoring in Psychological Sciences and Minoring in Chicano Latino Studies. Her current positions at WISE PAC include the Education Cluster Lead and the Director of Design for this wonderful committee. She is also currently participating in the Humans of Social Ecology Field Study and aspires to become a Marriage Family Therapist that wants to focus on trauma and stress among young children and their families.
Ananya Khanna (she/her/hers) is a 4th Year, Psychological Science major. She is in WISE because if she could make a difference in even one person's life she feels that would be amazing. WISE PAC offers a platform to reach out to and be there for one another and so Ananya is so proud to be a part of it.
Her position at the WISE PAC is the social support cluster lead.
ABOUT WISE
Projects under WISE - Field study - Humans of Social Ecology
The project they are currently working on is called Humans in Social Ecology, where they give students, staff, and faculty the chance to talk about various topics surrounding mental health through podcasts, which are uploaded on our Soundcloud.
The allCove space at UCI will be a place “where every youth belongs, chooses the support they need and thrives” and also provides a variety of opportunities for students to support their wellness. They are aiming to provide a space for ages
12-25 years old to decompress and prioritize their mental health in hopes of reducing stigma, embracing mental wellness, increasing community connection, and providing access to culturally responsive services
Discussion points:
What was your perspective on mental health when you started your first year and how has your perspective molded since?
What is one source of stress that was detrimental to your mental health as a university student?
Have you or how did you overcome that struggle? - What is one campus resource that you found helpful for your wellbeing? -
One major project of WISE is the Wellness Initiative in Social Ecology Peer Advisory Collective (WISE PAC): a student-led, student-driven team of individuals within the School of Social Ecology who represent diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, lived experience, ability, and socioeconomic status. All members are driven and passionate people, who want to create real change in wellness and mental health in the UC Irvine community.
As a team, we aim to destigmatize mental illnesses and increase access to mental health uses and resources. As we continue to expand, we hope to have our efforts reach more to not just the students of UCI, but also the community of Orange County.
Michelle Thai is a third year University of California, Irvine student double majoring in Psychological Science and Criminology, Law, and Society. She is part of the Humans of Social Ecology Field Study under WISE and serves as the Director of Marketing and Self Care peer advisor.
Michelle is passionate about supporting people’s wellbeing and I hope to be a mental health counselor for juvenile youth in the future.
Mariana Montserrat Machaen (she/her/hers/ella). She is currently a fourth-year student at the University of California, Irvine. Mariana is currently majoring in Psychological Sciences and Minoring in Chicano Latino Studies. Her current positions at WISE PAC include the Education Cluster Lead and the Director of Design for this wonderful committee. She is also currently participating in the Humans of Social Ecology Field Study and aspires to become a Marriage Family Therapist that wants to focus on trauma and stress among young children and their families.
Ananya Khanna (she/her/hers) is a 4th Year, Psychological Science major. She is in WISE because if she could make a difference in even one person's life she feels that would be amazing. WISE PAC offers a platform to reach out to and be there for one another and so Ananya is so proud to be a part of it.
Her position at the WISE PAC is the social support cluster lead.
ABOUT WISE
Projects under WISE - Field study - Humans of Social Ecology
The project they are currently working on is called Humans in Social Ecology, where they give students, staff, and faculty the chance to talk about various topics surrounding mental health through podcasts, which are uploaded on our Soundcloud.
The allCove space at UCI will be a place “where every youth belongs, chooses the support they need and thrives” and also provides a variety of opportunities for students to support their wellness. They are aiming to provide a space for ages
12-25 years old to decompress and prioritize their mental health in hopes of reducing stigma, embracing mental wellness, increasing community connection, and providing access to culturally responsive services
Discussion points:
What was your perspective on mental health when you started your first year and how has your perspective molded since?
What is one source of stress that was detrimental to your mental health as a university student?
Have you or how did you overcome that struggle? - What is one campus resource that you found helpful for your wellbeing? -
