Representatives from the Undergraduate Students Association Council attempted to lay out lawn chairs, blankets and pillows amid the bustle of Bruin Walk at Meyerhoff Park Wednesday afternoon, but were unable to due to campus regulations.
Campus authorities required the organizers to remove all furniture from Meyerhoff Park, said Miles Hogan, a third-year marine biology student who put together the event.
Nonetheless, “Naptime” continued as the organizers stood on Bruin Walk to pass out cookies and educational material regarding the importance of sleep.
“(A key) part of “˜Naptime’ is to educate students on the connection between sleeping and the sustenance of mental health,” Hogan said, adding he was passing out promotional materials for sleep awareness workshops put on by Student Psychological Services and the results of a study on insomnia.
According to a USAC statement, the event was promoted as “Naptime,” and was supposed to be complete with the furniture and refreshments such as tea and hot chocolate.
“Naptime” is one program of Mental Health Awareness Week, which serves to increase awareness and spark interest in mental health issues, the statement said.
The statement added that the week was partially triggered by a UC Board of Regents report on mental health and statistics showing that 70 percent of college juniors reported feeling depressed either “frequently or occasionally.”
Hogan said he hoped the week would start a mental health awareness trend at UCLA, since there has previously been a lack of mental health education.
Other events in the week included a Mental Health Carnival, an Activities and Relaxation night and workshops on topics ranging from breaking up with a lover to concentrating for exams.
The week will conclude Thursday with a Mental Health Awareness Fair at Bruin Plaza during the day and an evening screening of the movie “Fight Club” in the Northwest Campus Auditorium.
“”˜Naptime’ promotes rest and relaxation and allows students to take a break from their busy day,” said Joline Price, a USAC general representative who initiated Mental Health Awareness Week.
Some students attended the event because of their personal interests in the importance of sleep.
“Despite advice telling us to get a good night’s sleep over a test, most students still stay up all night and cram,” said Allie Swislocki, a first-year undeclared student.
“As a generation with serious sleep deprivation, we will see negative effects on our health in the future,” Swislocki said.
Others took interest in “˜Naptime’ because of the greater context of Mental Health Awareness Week.
“Twenty percent of young people suffer from mental illness, and many of them go undiagnosed,” said Kaitlin Kelly-Reif, a first-year political science student. “Mental Health Awareness Week destigmatizes mental illness and encourages students to seek out help.”