Kind Fest highlights the importance of self-kindness and how that affects well-being and mental health.
On Thursday, students listened to speakers, ate pizza, and did arts and crafts as they learned about ways to handle stress and take care of their mental health.
“We are just trying to come together, as stress is building, as we’re heading into midterms and getting into the semester,” said Dr. Kelly Greco, a licensed psychologist from USC Counseling and Mental Health Services and a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and the behavioral sciences.
Kind Fest is about “how do we focus on supporting each other, a sense of belonging, kindness and positive mental health and well being,” Greco said.
Layla Harbert, a freshman studying public relations and advertising, said she believes that it’s important for college students to have the right tools to help them cope.
“I think currently, a lot of college students, obviously are going through the pressure of whether it’s exams, familial pressure, identity, conformity issues,” she said, and I think that it’s important to have resources that help support you during that time.”
The event was presented by Annenberg’s Student Services Office and many student organizations, Dr. Greco said.
“We just want to be there in terms of how to meet the students where they’re at,” she said.