Well-being and Resilience: Mental Health and Stress Management Workshop Series
December 9, 2025
We are honored to present CUNY Adjunct Incubator work. Please read about Naziat Hassan’s (Queensborough Community College) public scholarship and its impact below.
Mental Health and Stress Management Workshop Series
By Naziat Hassan
In today’s fast-paced world, stress and anxiety are common. Do we ever stop to reflect on how we can invest in our own well-being? Do we pause to take a break and listen to our bodies and minds? Finding effective strategies to manage stress and anxiety is key, but we are often not aware that we are facing anxiety and experiencing various stressors.
Anxiety and stress can go hand-in-hand. Whereas stress can pass within a short period of time, anxiety is persistent; stress has a known trigger, but anxiety has no known trigger. In both instances, our fight or flight responses are activated. The sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic nervous system, prepares our body to either flee, fight, freeze, or fawn in a situation. We become ready to protect ourselves from danger or run from it. In essence, anxiety and stress are evolutionary—thousands of years ago, we had to protect ourselves from danger. That danger has changed today, taking forms like abuse, arguments, war, diseases, and so much more. The question becomes, what do we do with this information?
We recently had the privilege of hosting three workshops addressing these questions with support from the CUNY Adjunct Incubator program, the Center for the Humanities at the CUNY Graduate Center, and the Public Scholarship Space (PS2) at the Graduate Center of CUNY. The purpose of this project was to dismantle negative stigmas, misconceptions, and myths surrounding mental health, as well as to encourage individuals to be proactive in overcoming obstacles with resilience and grace. The series was well-attended by over 80 individuals and met its primary goal of providing psychoeducation around mental health and personal well-being.
Workshop 1
The first workshop was in partnership with the Asian American Institute for Research and Engagement. It was held at Nanking in New Hyde Park, New York. Dinner was provided. Twenty college students attended the workshop. Psychologist Dr. Sadia Chaudhry and I delivered presentations on understanding and recognizing anxiety and stress, as well as shared tips and strategies to improve anxiety and stress. The audience left with insight on how to identify when one is experiencing stress, the science behind anxiety and stress, and ways to cope.
Workshop 2
The second event took place at Queensborough Community College, where college students in attendance were provided with snacks such as bananas, apples, granola bars, and apple juice. Students were educated on the services the college provides pertaining to mental health, including the Counseling Center services. I discussed ways individuals can seek help and encouraged students to call the Counseling Center when they need help in navigating college. I also emphasized the importance of seeking help early on so that students can address any concerns in areas hindering their success in college. Students left with vital information on counseling services and seemed curious and impressed, agreeing to use the service or even to refer a friend.
Workshop 3
The third workshop took place at the Turkish Cultural Center of Long Island, also in partnership with the Asian American Institute for Research and Engagement. Dinner, coffee, and tea were provided. The audience was mainly working adults, and the workshop itself was geared towards the “sandwich generation”—a generation that takes care of their parents and their own children. Over thirty-five individuals attended the event.
The goal of this workshop was to destigmatize seeking help for mental health-related issues and find hope in personal well-being. I presented on the science and psychology behind anxiety and stress, discussed the signs and symptoms, and normalized experiencing a little bit of stress and anxiety.
I shared ways to identify anxiety and stress, such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and irrational thoughts. Dr. Sadia Chaudhry discussed various stressors taking place in adult life and ways to personalize coping strategies when feeling overwhelmed or experiencing burnout. She emphasized practical tools like progressive muscle relaxation, box breathing, and grounding techniques to assist with calming the nerves and decreasing anxiety and stress.
Closing Reflection
The series not only provided valuable information but also fostered positive community support and a willingness to learn about issues impacting our daily lives, encouraging open dialogue. We were able to work together to help create practical solutions to unique challenges that underrepresented communities face, reducing stigma through conversation and the sharing of resources that support mental and emotional health. Mental health is still very much viewed with scrutiny and met with criticism.
With the help of the Center for the Humanities at the CUNY Graduate Center, a road was paved to bring light to pertinent matters affecting us not only on a micro level but on a macro level as well. We again thank you for your support in meeting our goals and objectives. We hope that this is just the beginning of collective healing.
Naziat Hassan
Naziat Hassan is a licensed mental health counselor at Queensborough Community College, with expertise in treating individuals, adolescents, adults, and families facing mood disorders, trauma, and substance abuse.
