MIND Institute lecture series opens with symposium on mental health and developmental disabilities

The UC Davis MIND Institute's popular Distinguished Lecturer Series kicks off this month with a symposium focused on mental health and other challenges commonly experienced in people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The free event, which is open to the public, takes place Oct. 14 from 4 to 6:15 p.m. in the MIND Institute auditorium in Sacramento. It will feature a keynote address on mental health and a panel discussion about anxiety, feeding problems and gastrointestinal issues.

"The symposium is a chance to discuss not only scientific discoveries, but also what they mean for individuals and families," said David Hessl, director of the lecture series and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the MIND Institute.

Mental health, feeding challenges and GI issues

Clinician-scientist Meng-Chuan Lai of the University of Toronto will present the keynote, "Going Beyond the Label: Rethinking Mental Health in Autistic People."

Lai's lecture will examine why autistic people experience mental health challenges at higher rates than the general population and why those challenges can be overlooked or misunderstood. He will discuss how a person's mental health needs change across a person's lifetime and how care can be better tailored to autistic individuals.

Lai is a child psychiatrist who leads an internationally recognized research program on the mental health, psychology and wellbeing of autistic people. He is senior scientist and associate professor of psychiatry at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto.

Lai's lecture will be followed by a panel discussion on other health and behavioral challenges that commonly affect people with developmental disabilities. Panelists include UC Davis experts in the following areas:

• Anxiety: Marjorie Solomon, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Feeding problems: Scott Akins, developmental-behavioral pediatrician and MIND Institute medical director
• Gastrointestinal issues: Bibiana Restrepo, developmental-behavioral pediatrician

Community connection and education

An extended audience Q&A segment will follow the panel discussion.

"One of the things I appreciate most about the symposium format is bringing together people who approach neurodevelopment from different perspectives," Hessl said. "These conversations often spark new ideas and remind us how much we can learn from each other."

The MIND Institute's Distinguished Lecturer Series has offered free talks on research and care for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities for more than two decades.

For the past two years, the series has kicked off with a symposium, featuring a longer event, panel discussion and Q&A, with opportunity for increased community connection.

"The symposium is a wonderful way to launch the lecture series because it highlights the breadth of work happening across the field," Hessel said. "It sets the stage for a year of learning, discovery and meaningful discussion."

The lecture series will feature traditional-length talks starting in January. The lineup will be released soon.

Symposium Details

• Wednesday, Oct. 14, 4 to 6:15 p.m.
• UC Davis MIND Institute Auditorium, 2825 50th St., Sacramento.
• Open to all. No registration needed. Seating is first-come, first-served.
• Parking available in the UC Davis MIND Institute parking lot (Lot 25).

Watch previous Distinguished Lecturer Series presentations