About 40 University of Michigan students and Ann Arbor community members attended an open house event for the Mary A. Rackham Institute Friday afternoon. The event celebrated the opening of MARI’s new location at 210 S. 5th Ave. for the University Psychological Clinic and the University Center for the Child and Family. MARI consists of three clinics: the psychological clinic, the UCCF and the University Center for Language and Literacy.
MARI was established in the 1930s through a $1 million endowment fund from Mary Rackham, first known as the Institute for Human Adjustment before adopting its current name in 2014. MARI currently offers mental health services and programs addressing language and literacy development for children and adults, in addition to providing clinical training programs.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily prior to the event, MARI senior director Christine Asidao said the new location for MARI’s mental health services will improve its visibility on campus and provide a space for both clients and staff to flourish.
“We are located still within walking distance to campus but it is more downtown, and the entire building is dedicated to our mental health clinics,” Asidao said. “It fits what we need in regards to not only clinical services, but also (as) a training institute. We are training the next generation of clinicians and so this space is really optimal for doing the multiple things that we do.”
Asidao opened the event with a land acknowledgment before thanking attendees for coming to the open house event.
“On behalf of my talented team, thank you so much for joining us today as we celebrate the move to the new home of MARI’s mental health clinics: the Psychological Clinic and the University Center for the Child and Family,” Asidao said. “You may have also noticed some of our custom-illustrated stickers, one that asks, ‘Do you know MARI?’ I am hoping that after today you will be able to answer that question confidently.”
Meaghan Fesler, MARI clinic and operations manager, said at the event that planning the move to the new office reaffirmed her belief in the importance of mental health care.
“This experience has allowed me to gain an even deeper understanding than I had as a clinician for the specific needs and challenges faced by a mental health clinic,” Fesler said. “A mental health clinic requires a sensitive and nurturing environment that prioritizes the well-being and comfort of both clients and staff. … Overseeing this move has reinforced a critical role that our clinic plays in the community and the importance of providing high-quality mental health services to all.”
Rackham Dean Michael J. Solomon said MARI’s new location would help the University better address the mental health and well-being of the community.
“MARI bridges across the University and the community in ways that are truly unique,” Solomon said. “This location within walking distance of campus and downtown is well suited to sustaining that bridge. The University and community are linked in so many critical ways, not the least being the families of University staff, students and faculty who are integral to our communities.”
At the event, LSA senior Alyna Lim told The Daily that her internship with MARI was incredibly enriching for her because it gave her experience in the field of mental health services that many other undergraduates do not receive.
“Usually as an undergraduate, you don’t really get the exposure to see and hear about cases and hear these graduate trainees as well as experienced clinicians talk about cases and brainstorm and troubleshoot their cases,” Lim said. “So you do get the behind-the-scenes of how clinicians work out what is the best course of treatment for patients.”
Asidao told The Daily she was thankful for the MARI team and was looking forward to seeing what MARI would achieve in the future despite current challenges in obtaining services for mental health and language and literacy development.
“There’s been so much demand (for these services so) I am really thankful that we are able to help train. … The next generation of clinicians to really answer the call to provide excellent services in regards to mental health and language and literacy,” Asidao said. “So doing the educational piece of MARI as well as the clinical service are both really important.”
Daily Staff Reporter Eilene Koo can be reached at ekoo@umich.edu. Daily Staff Contributor Lyra Wilder contributed reporting to the article.