After many months of making phone calls, requesting permission and planning, we are thrilled to share the exciting news of a week-long research collaboration between the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) Mexico Research Team and UCLA’s HEART Lab.
The BUAP team finally reunited again with the HEART Lab at UCLA on Monday evening, eager to dive into a week of enriching discussions and fruitful collaborations. One of the highlights of their visit was meeting Dr. Erica Lubliner, the new director of UCLA’s Spanish-speaking Psychosocial Clinic. This interdisciplinary clinic, established in 1977, offers essential psychiatric diagnostic services, treatments, and resources for the rapidly growing and underserved Latino/x community. The BUAP team had the opportunity to learn about the innovative approaches implemented at the Spanish-speaking clinic and the UCLA team got to understand how resources are very limited for college students in Mexico. Insights gained from this exchange will inform potential strategies for enhancing mental health support at BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.
Furthermore, both the BUAP and UCLA research teams made significant progress on a collaborative study focusing on college students’ help-seeking behaviors from formal and informal support systems. This study aims to shed light on the barriers and facilitators to seeking help for mental health concerns among college students.
In addition to research endeavors, the BUAP team enjoyed a tour of UCLA’s campus and participated in a heartwarming activity with a UCLA food insecurity student organization called Swipe Out Hunger, dedicated to eliminating food insecurity on college campuses across the country. Together, they made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to donate to college students and individuals within the greater LA community t, embodying the spirit of community service and compassion.
While the week flew by, we are energized by the progress and the connections that were made during this collaborative endeavor. Although our time together was limited, our commitment to advancing mental health research and support for college students all over the world remains unwavering. We are looking forward to future opportunities to continue this collaboration and the continued pursuit of innovative solutions to promote mental well-being.