Help us celebrate 50 years of the Semel Institute. Learn more

About Us

News & Events

Featured

Understanding UCLA’s Ecological Medicine & Psychedelic Studies Initiative

The UCLA Ecological Medicine & Psychedelic Studies Initiative, part of the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, is investigating scientifically validated treatments for mental health. Project Reconnect will link the care and health of the natural world to the improved well-being of individuals and communities. A monthly affinity group offers lectures and other activities such as forest bathing,…

Read More

News

Understanding UCLA’s Ecological Medicine & Psychedelic Studies Initiative

The UCLA Ecological Medicine & Psychedelic Studies Initiative, part of the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, is investigating scientifically validated treatments for mental health. Project Reconnect will link the care and health of the natural world to the improved well-being of individuals and communities. A monthly affinity group offers lectures and other activities such as forest bathing,…

News

Historic Investment in Future Providers by Ballmer Group

The Ballmer Group announced historic investments aimed at developing the pipeline of mental health professionals to transform mental health care systems for underserved populations. This includes a $5 million gift to the UCLA Child Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry, and Psychology Fellowships to develop community training tracks for child psychiatry fellows as well as postdoctoral psychologists. Read more.

News

Gen Z Summit Offers Mental Health Solutions for the Digital Age

On Sunday, March 8, more than 400 students, parents, educators, and school leaders gathered at UCLA for the 3rd Annual Gen Z Wellness Summit, presented by the Friends of the Semel Institute Teen Advisory Council. The day focused on practical, youth-informed tools to support mental health, with sessions on academic pressure, addiction, body image and eating disorders, nutrition, social media…

News

UCLA Brian Research Institute hosts 2026 Brain Health Summit

The UCLA Brain Health Summit chaired by Dr. Helen Levretsky of UCLA Psychiatry and co-chaired by Dr. Sahib Khalsa of UCLA Psychiatry and Indu Subramanian of UCLA Neurology, showcased UCLA’s leadership in advancing a unifying vision of brain health across the lifespan. Bringing together experts from psychiatry, neurology, neuroscience, public health, philanthropy, technology, industry, the arts, and patient advocacy, representatives…

News

UCLA Health Establishes New Neuroscience Fellowship Through Transformative Gift

UCLA Health has received a $2.4 million gift from Rose and Allen Nelson to establish a new fellowship, in memory of their late son Brandon, in translation and clinical neuroscience. The fellowship will support emerging physician-scientists as they bridge research and patient care, advancing innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of complex brain disorders. Read more.

News

UCLA TIES Recognized for 30 years of service to LA

LA Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s office recognized UCLA TIES for Families with a special scroll celebrating 30 years of the program’s service to the LA Community.

News

Now Enrolling Adults: PEERS® for Dating

The PEERS® for Dating Online Social Skills Classes are currently enrolling adults for their next group. Groups are held live via zoom. Learn more at www.teams.semel.ucla.edu/peers

News

Now Enrolling Families: PEERS® for Adolescents

The PEERS® for Adolescents Social Skills Groups are currently enrolling families for in-person or online sessions. Learn more at www.teams.ucla.edu/peers

News

Now Enrolling Families Online: PEERS® Online Social Skills Classes

The PEERS® Online Social Skills Classes for Teens & Young Adults are currently enrolling families to participate in online sessions. Learn more at www.teams.ucla.edu/peers

News

Now Enrolling Parents Online: PEERS® for Preschoolers

The PEERS® for Preschoolers Parent-Only Social Skills Groups are enrolling parents to participate in online sessions. Learn more at www.teams.ucla.edu/peers

News

Now Enrolling Adults 18-35: PEERS® for Young Adults

The PEERS® for Young Adults Social Skills Groups are currently enrolling adults 18-35 to participate in sessions online and in person. Learn more at www.teams.ucla.edu/peers

News

Now Enrolling Parents of School-Aged Children: Super-Parenting Group

The UCLA Family Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Clinic is offering a group for parents whose school-aged children (ages 5-12) are experiencing stress, anxiety, or persistent worrying. Learn more about the Spring group by contacting the clinic at 310-825-7573 or starclinic@mednet.ucla.edu

Event

El Camino

April 22, 2026

Wednesdays April 22 – May 27 Contact SSPC@mednet.ucla.edu for more information.

Event

STAR Seminar: Simple Strategies to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026 (Thursday) Register Online: https://learn.wellbeing4la.org/detail?id=401911&k=1773943760 Flyer: https://files.constantcontact.com/a59b145a201/ce57d7aa-c281-44fd-bc15-7f7113ac6bb1.png?rdr=true

Event

UCLA Friends of Semel Institute – Open Mind Film Festival 2026

April 26, 2026

Sunday, April 26, 2026 1:00 PM Register at https://www.friendsofsemelinstitute.org/events-reservations/open-mind-film-festival-2026

Event

UCLA Friends of Semel Institute – Robot-Proof: when Machines Have All the Answers, Build Better People

April 28, 2026

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Register at https://www.friendsofsemelinstitute.org/events-reservations/robot-proof%3A-when-machines-have-all-the-answers%2C-build-better-people

Event

Youth Mental Wellbeing: A Youth-Led Design Lab on Brain Health, the Arts and AI

May 01, 2026

Friday, May 1, 2026 | 1pm–3pm | UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center On the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month — as California’s landmark Prop 1 Mental Health Accountability Act takes effect — UCLA’s Semel Institute Teen Advisory Council, well-known artists dedicated to community healing, SoCal youth organizations and OpenAI Academy will convene the people who can…

News

Division of Population Behavioral Health Celebrates 10 years

With the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, the “Triple Aim” of health care improved health of the US population, increased quality of care and cost containment, has become central to health-system transformation. The shifting of priorities toward population-level and value-based health has created new opportunities for innovation and program creation. In response to these changing…

Event

UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids 2026 Symposium

May 14, 2026

UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids 2026 Symposium May 14, 2026 10 AM – 5 PM Agenda and Registration to come

News

Semel In the News: March 2026

The Guardian Surging prediction markets face legal backlash in US: ‘Lines have been blurred’ — Expert commentary from Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, director of the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Oprah Daily The Future of Menopause Care— Coverage of study co-led…

News

UCLA Health announces $100 million gift from Stewart and Lynda Resnick to advance mental health care

Donation from LA-based global philanthropists will work to address the growing mental health crisis in Los Angeles

News

Semel In the News: August 2025

Semel Faculty and Researchers are well-known in their fields. See below for a selection of recent articles highlighting their work and expertise.

News

The Real-Life Dating Boot Camp That Inspired ‘Love on the Spectrum’

Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson and the UCLA PEERS™ Program’s 20-week social skills program helps adults with autism learn how to find and maintain healthy romantic relationships. Much of the coursework focuses on building comfort in conversation, or, as the coaches call it, trading information One central skill taught is not to panic if there are extended silences. Hayley Ditter, 24, who…

News

Celebrating 50 Years of NPIH

The UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI) was founded in the post World War II era, as a research, education and treatment center with the mission to serve those citizens who suffer chronic psychiatric and neurological disease and behavioral disorder. Initially supported entirely by state funds from the California Department of Mental Hygiene, the Neuropsychiatric Institute, and the Hospital (NPH) that is integral to its provision of clinical care, opened their doors in 1961.

News

Suma Jacob, MD, PhD Announced as Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Suma Jacob, MD, PhD is a distinguished child-adolescent-adult psychiatrist as well as a neuroscientist who is widely recognized for her research in neuroendrocrinology and neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan.

News

Semel Institute Ranks 4th at UCLA in Grant Funding

This year, external gifts to the Semel Institute grew to $21.5M from $18M in 2023.