Hollywood & Mind, a venture positioned at the intersection of the entertainment industry and the mental health sector, held its second annual Summit today on the UTA Campus in Beverly Hills, with a diverse group of thought leaders, artists, creatives, executives, and advocates united in their commitment to destigmatizing mental health challenges within the entertainment industry.
Singer-songwriter Mike Posner joined the event for a performance of his 2017 Grammy-nominated song “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” and a brand new song. He joined Hollywood & Mind founder Cathy Applefeld Olson for a thought-provoking conversation during which he shared his experience with self-exploration and discovery, including his epic walk across the United States in 2019. “Not all crazy ideas are great but all great ideas are crazy. I went on this journey and it changed my life. I’m not saying everyone here should walk across America, but sometimes there’s an internal walk we need to go on,” he said.
In a panel with Joel Goldman of The Kids Mental Health Foundation, Angel Carter Conrad, Aaron Pearce, and Soleil Moon Frye, Frye talked about her experience making her 2021 documentary. “From my experience doing ‘KID 90’ I thought I was doing something very different, and in reliving my own childhood I had a lot of ghosts that came back and I had to process that and it was one of the true healing experiences of my life.”
Kevin Hines, storyteller, author, filmmaker, investor, and one of only a small number of survivors who attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge, shared, “Suicide does not take the pain away. It transfers it to everyone left behind and makes it wholly impossible for things to ever get better.”
Through candid panel discussions, speakers encouraged attendees to address the stigma surrounding mental health struggles and shared personal strategies for effectively navigating the formidable pressures inherent within the industry. "Couples Therapy" Star Dr. Orna Guralnik, actor and singer Chyler Leigh, Maybelline Head of Brand Engagement Sarah Shaker, comedians Kevin Fredericks and Carmen Esposito, professional basketball player Imani McGee-Stafford, Indianapolis Colts vice chair/owner Kalen Jackson, “Bel Air” creator and showrunner Morgan Stevenson Cooper, model Emma Brooks, The NAACP’s Kyle Bowser, actor/singer Kevin Quinn, The Squeeze podcast co-host Tay Lautner, advocate and model Rose Montoya, Creators Capital/Empower GenZ founder Jaxon J Huffman, multi-Grammy-winning producer Aaron Pearce, were just a few of the notable speakers who offered attendees unique perspectives for managing mental health. Additional attendees included Vanderpump Rules star Rachel Leviss and actors James Haven and Gary Dourdan.
This year's event marked the second Hollywood & Mind Summit. The inaugural Summit in 2023 featured a fireside chat between Cathy Applefeld Olson and Demi Lovato and conversations about mental health storytelling, the power of song, and partnerships among mental health organizations and creators among topics. With each gathering, Hollywood & Mind reinforces its commitment to fostering a culture of empathy, resilience, and support within the entertainment industry. As conversations continue beyond the summit, Hollywood & Mind remains steadfast in its mission to drive lasting change and elevate mental health awareness across industries. More information is available at www.hollywood-mind.com.
