Wellness Event 2026: In Every Story, There’s Strength

The Office of Faculty Wellness and Engagement invites the entire UT Southwestern community to join us for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, taking place May 11–15, 2026.

Throughout the week, we will host five virtual wellness sessions centered on this year’s theme: “In Every Story, There’s Strength.” These sessions are designed to highlight the many ways personal experiences shape resilience, growth, and well-being.

Our speakers will share insights across a range of important topics, including personal wellness, parenting wellness, and children’s mental health, offering practical strategies and meaningful reflection for individuals at every stage of life and career.

We hope you will take time during the week to pause, connect, and invest in your well-being as a community committed to supporting one another.

Please click the links below to register for the sessions you would like to attend.

Monday, May 11 (2-3 p.m.)

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. – Yoga Skills for a Stronger You

Marissa Hansen, M.A.

200-RYT
Senior Management Analyst of the Office of Faculty Development

We have all faced challenges at some point in our lives. Strength is not only a physical skill but a mental and emotional skill that must be trained and practiced daily. Marissa will lead participants through a series of yoga postures, breathing exercises, and guided meditation to help cultivate strength and resilience. Marissa has practiced yoga for 17 years and is a yoga instructor for the More Than Yoga studio located in Plano, TX. She earned her 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification from the Yoga Alliance Alpha Omega Yoga school under the guidance of Chidanandi Sheri Cherokee, MBA, E-RYT 500. She also offers a series of short, beginner-friendly, guided meditations called "Gift of Yoga: Guided Meditation" available on music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Tuesday, May 12 (12-1 p.m.)

Living an Energy Efficient Life: A Conversation with Dr. Jenna Glover

Jenna Glover, Ph.D.

Chief Clinical Officer for Headspace

What could become possible if you reclaimed more energy in your everyday life and used it more intentionally? How might that change the way you live? In this inspiring talk, Dr. Jenna Glover draws from her personal stories to bring these ideas to life and foster meaningful reflection. Dr. Glover invites participants to discover how small, mindful shifts in daily habits can cultivate greater meaning, resilience, and well‑being. By understanding how change occurs and ensuring our basic needs are consistently met, we can create a self‑renewing source of energy that empowers new perspectives, fuels personal growth, and supplies us with the energy needed to generate sustainable solutions to life's challenges.

Wednesday, May 13 (2-3 p.m.)

The Hidden Transition of the Working Parent: The Story we Don't Talk About

Chiaka O. Akarichi, M.D., FACS, FABA

Assistant Professor of Surgery

This session will explore the transition into parenthood and the often-unspoken challenges of expecting in the workplace, going out on parental leave and the early months of returning as a working parent. En Lieu of this year's theme, "There is Strength in Every Story," there will be opportunity to share our own stories of transition, vulnerability and resilience to reflect on the identity shifts and wellness needs of a new working parent and to learn of ways to navigate institutional resources.

Thursday May, 14 (2-3 p.m.)

Serial Fixer: Break Free from the Habit of Solving Other People's Problems by Leah Marone

Leah Marone, LCSW

Psychotherapist and Mental Wellness Consultant

Many of us know why healthy boundaries matter, but still over-accommodate, over-function, and feel resentful of others’ demands. If you find yourself constantly fixing problems for others at the expense of your own energy, this session is for you.

Leah Marone, LCSW, psychotherapist and mental wellness consultant, will introduce key concepts from her new book Serial Fixer: Break Free From the Habit of Solving Other People’s Problems, helping you break old patterns and discover new ones. You’ll explore the roots of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue, learn how to create boundaries that are actually sustainable, and uncover strategies to maintain connection while preserving your energy.

Friday May, 15 (2-3 p.m.)

Growing Minds: Recognizing and Supporting Children’s Mental Health

Camilia Grant, LPC

Children's Outpatient Psychiatry Care Coordinator

In recognition of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, this virtual session is designed for audiences to learn how to recognize early signs of mental health concerns in children, understand the differences between psychology, psychiatry, and therapy, and gain practical tips for supporting your child as they navigate emotions, identity, and wellbeing. Participants will leave with tools to foster open communication and support their child’s mental health with confidence.