As Los Angeles continues to absorb the devastating effects of the fires, Hollywood & Mind, the venture focused both on elevating the well-being of those working across the entertainment industry and leveraging the power of the industry to help diminish our global mental health crisis, is hosting a community Mental Health Meet-Up.
On Wednesday, January 29 from 2-6pm at The London in West Hollywood, the gathering will bring together members of the music, film, television and other creative communities for support, healing and resource-sharing during this traumatic time. Joely Fisher, national secretary-treasurer and chair of government affairs and public policy, and co-chair of the mental health committee at SAG-AFTRA; and Sean Astin, co-chair of the mental health committee at SAG-AFTRA, will join mental health professionals, wellbeing experts and advocates for conversations on stage and the opportunity to convene and connect. Music artist Ambar Lucid is also taking part in the event.
Active Minds, ArtistServices Therapy, Backline, psychotherapist, author and podcaster Elliott Connie, Motion Picture & Television Fund, Project Angel Food, the Television Academy and the UTA Foundation are among others slated to participate.
The Mental Health Meet-Up will take the place of Hollywood & Mind’s previously planned second annual Grammy Week Spotlight event. “We center community in everything we do and this pivot, which embraces the larger entertainment industry, feels like the right way for us to show up at this time,” says Cathy Applefeld Olson, founder of Hollywood & Mind. “The need for mental healthcare due to this crisis is immediate and will have lingering effects, and we’re here to support the community we’re rooted in.”
Active Minds, the nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults, and Myndstream, which unites art and science to create music designed for health and wellbeing, are Supporting Partners of the Mental Health Meet-Up; The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills is Hospitality Partner for the event.
The brainchild of veteran entertainment industry journalist Cathy Applefeld Olson, Hollywood & Mind has consistently provided a safe and supportive space for notable entertainers and industry leaders, including Demi Lovato, Tiffany Haddish, Mike Posner, Marlon Wayans, Charlamagne Tha God, Daniel Ezra (“All American”), Soleil Moon Frye, Chyler Leigh, Dr. Orna Guralnik and many others.