Redlands, CA – Mental illness affects one in five adults each year and one in five youths between the ages of 13 and 18. Unfortunately, because of the stigma and discrimination surrounding poor mental health, many of those individuals don’t reach out for help.
To engage community members in conversations about and action toward mental health and wellness, the University’s Alliance for Community Transformation & Wellness (ACTW)will present the Vibe Festival of Wellness, starting at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 14 on the Orton Center Lawn at the University of Redlands main campus. The event is free and open to the public.
“Looking to May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the goal of this event is to further educate and support community mental health and wellness throughout the region,” said Dr. Janee Both Gragg, associate professor in the School of Education and ACTW founder. “Wellness is key to our functioning in life, our ability to reach our goals, connect with others, and experience joy. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about and interact with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Eight Dimensions of Wellness while enjoying local artisan food, listening to their favorite local bands and reconnecting with friends and family in an exceptionally inspiring outdoor venue.”
The ACTW has allowed the University of Redlands to partner with several local agencies to reduce the stigma of mental health issues through funding important educational opportunities, scholarships, and community engagement events
About University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private, nonprofit university that connects students to a world of opportunity, geared toward their passions and potential. Centrally located near the beaches, mountains and desert in the heart of Southern California, the University offers more than 40 undergraduate programs, as well as 20 graduate programs in business, communication sciences and disorders, education, geographic information systems, and music — blending liberal arts and professional programs, applied and theoretical study, traditional majors and self-designed curricula. See redlands.edu.
