New Era for Mental Health Advocacy at UNC: Co-Directors Harini Somanchi and Neha Saggi Revive Coalition in the Midst of Pandemic

The UNC Mental Health Coalition, founded in 2019, was disbanded in 2021 due to leadership changes during the pandemic. However, two junior students, Harini Somanchi and Neha Saggi, revived the group in January of this year. They are both co-directors of the department of student wellness and safety in the Undergraduate Executive Branch.

The coalition aims to bring together student leaders from various identity-based and mental health-focused organizations on campus. Somanchi and Saggi reached out to organizations previously involved to form the coalition, working closely with UNC Student Wellness. Their goal is to increase awareness of mental health resources on campus and coordinate the efforts of different student groups.

Currently represented by approximately 15 organizations, including the Carolina Covenant Student Advisory Council, the National Alliance on Mental Illness On Campus, and the Minority Student Caucus, the coalition serves as a collaborative body for individuals interested in mental health on campus to streamline their efforts.

In January, the coalition held its first meeting as a new group, where representatives heard from UNC’s Counseling and Psychological Services Director Avery Cook about myths surrounding CAPS and mental health resources at UNC. Emily Hernandez, a UNC junior and resilience outreach intern for Healthy Heels, indicated that there was positive feedback from coalition members following the meeting.

Looking ahead, the representatives are planning a social media campaign to disseminate information shared during