We’re excited to welcome our newest team members joining us for the Summer 2025 term!
Over the coming months, these incredible interns will be supporting the work of NAMI Westside LA. They bring a strong passion for mental health advocacy and a deep commitment to making a meaningful impact in our community.
We encourage you to connect with them and learn more about the work they are doing. We are so glad to have them on board.
2025 Interns
Stefania
Sophomore, Psychology at Santa Monica College
“Mental health is very important to me because it is something I have seen myself and loved ones struggle with in the past. I truly believe mental health should be valued as much as physical health and I have always advocated to my loved ones to get the proper care they need when it comes to their own mental health.“
2025 Interns
Nairi
Senior, Psychology at UCLA
“Mental health is important to me because without it I cannot fully function as a human. Currently, there is a strong stigma and discrimination that make it even harder to access care. One is told to “toughen up,” but this only creates more harm. In this modern state, stress from oppression isn’t just emotional; it has real physical consequences, even making a life shorter. Having an immigrant family, having support is often rare, and those consequences are severe. Leaving little room to address mental struggles or just to talk. It’s important for me to break this stigma and advocate for mental health resources. Life happens abruptly, and we all need a net to catch us when we need support.”
2025 Interns
Katherine
Sophomore, Political Science & Film Studies at Santa Monica College
“Mental health is important to me because without it I cannot fully function as a human. Currently, there is a strong stigma and discrimination that make it even harder to access care. One is told to “toughen up,” but this only creates more harm. In this modern state, stress from oppression isn’t just emotional; it has real physical consequences, even making a life shorter. Having an immigrant family, having support is often rare, and those consequences are severe. Leaving little room to address mental struggles or just to talk. It’s important for me to break this stigma and advocate for mental health resources. Life happens abruptly, and we all need a net to catch us when we need support.“
2025 Interns
Omar
Senior, Psychobiology at UCLA
“Mental health can affect everything, yet it’s often stigmatized, making it hard to talk about, especially with others. I believe it’s important to bridge the gap between people and open up conversations around it.“
2025 Interns
Ela, Lead Intern
Senior, Psychology at Loyola Marymount University
“Mental health is important to me because I grew up in a family where my voice was often not heard. Seeing a loved one struggle, gave me a greater sense of empathy and understanding and it taught me the importance of support systems. Being in the field of psychology has taught me many ideas and techniques, and I’m passionate about spreading the word!“
2025 Interns
Taylor
Senior, Psychobiology at UCLA
“Mental health can affect everything, yet it’s often stigmatized, making it hard to talk about, especially with others. I believe it’s important to bridge the gap between people and open up conversations around it.“
2025 Interns
Ava
Junior, psychology at UCLA
“Mental health is important to me because I have seen how it has affected my life and the lives of my loved ones. I have witnessed how mental health struggles can impact every aspect of a person’s life, and I’ve also seen the power that support, treatment, and resources can have in creating a real positive difference.“
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