We are living in extraordinary times, in the middle of a prolonged pandemic, which has taken its toll on our mental wellness. As we are caught in this whirlpool of collective trauma, we have each also been spinning with our individual traumas, be it losing our loved ones or other losses such as employment and relationships. In the continuum of mental health, on one end of the wide spectrum is flourishing, while on the other end is having a mental disorder, and in the middle is languishing, a place of stagnation, a term first introduced in 2002. The stressors of the pandemic with isolation and restricted social interactions have contributed to worsening mental health, as well as increased substance use in our communities. The challenge we are faced with today is to figure out how to reconnect with ourselves and our community by supporting one another, and how to renew our sense of purpose and vitality. Dr. Nathan will speak to these and related issues.
Dr. Kalpana Nathan is Chief Medical Director at El Camino Hospital’s Scrivner Center, Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS). She is board certified in general adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry. She is also an adjunct clinical professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. Her interests include meditation, global mental health, and promoting wellness for all.
September 14th, 2021
7 – 8:30 PM
