Depression first hit John Guzowski during a high point in his career as he achieved what academic scientists work so hard for. He had earned tenure, directed the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory and ran his own thriving lab. But despite all of this, the associate professor of neurobiology & behavior at UCI wasn’t happy.
How he learned to address his mental health journey a decade ago inspired him to create a general elective course in the School of Biological Sciences – Bio 48, “The Mind-Body Connection in the Neuroscience of Well-Being” – that aims to destigmatize discussions about this important topic and to equip young adults with the information and behavioral tools to support their well-being.
“[Depression] was something I had lived,” Guzowski says. “I want to prioritize mental health, and awareness is a big issue.”
A first-generation college student who earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Oakland University in Michigan and a Ph.D. in molecular biology & biochemistry at UCI, Guzowski says he grew up without a blueprint of how people thrive. Now he is drawing from his mental health journey – including two bouts of depression and therapy – to share an authentic and empathetic perspective on wellbeing.
His course – which blends neuroscience, physiology, psychology, philosophy and practical life skills – clarifies how the brain and body work as one system and how this knowledge can help students control their well-being. During class, Guzowski discusses physical, mental and social health – such as the importance of diet and sleep, and practices like meditation and mindfulness – and the lifestyle choices that impact the brain and body at the cellular and systems levels.
In addition, a significant portion of Bio 48 is about connected feedback loops – for example, components of physical health like exercise and the circadian rhythm affecting stress and the immune system. This holistic approach to health is intended to help students build resiliency to life’s stressors.
(Bio 48 will be taught in this winter quarter of 2024 from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. He will hold an optional discussion from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursdays, which Guzowski describes as a fun opportunity to expand upon topics covered in the lecture and to introduce related topics, such as the way technology impacts adolescents’ and young adults’ mental health. He anticipates also teaching the course in the summer session of 2024.)
The curriculum combines instructional material with interactive, practical application exercises. Students will list in a journal the actions they take each day to support their well-being, and they will also identify their core values and align them with their goals. These practices, which Guzowski used while managing his depression, seek to teach students the importance of taking care of the body and brain – and being intentional about it. In surveys after the course, the vast majority of students indicated they were more likely to engage in beneficial mental and physical practices after learning about their positive impacts on the nervous system.
Course enrollment has grown steadily since Guzowski first taught Bio 48 in the spring quarter of 2022 to 48 students. When he last taught it in the winter quarter of 2023, there were 94 enrolled students – and there are 138 open seats for the winter quarter of 2024.
“There’s a real crisis of mental health,” Guzowski says, referring to the increasing rates of depression and anxiety among the college-age population. He believes that awareness and education about mental health can help reverse that trend.
Feedback from students, several of whom have said that all UCI students should be required to take Bio 48, encourages Guzowski. One anonymous evaluation from a previous session reads: “This course was truly life-changing, and Prof. Guzowski is making a positive difference by creating/teaching this class. He assigned projects that were engaging and made students think deeply in a way that connected to the course directly.”
Guzowski has many goals for Bio 48 – such as expanding the course’s enrollment size, working with well-being partners on campus and writing a book on the topic. But above all, he wants people to learn that they have agency.
“Our well-being and happiness are not something that happens to us. It’s something we can control,” he says. “Even doing small things each day can give us a lot of joy and peace. Little changes are lasting changes.”
If you want to learn more about supporting this or other activities at UCI, please visit the Brilliant Future website. Publicly launched on Oct. 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UCI. The School of Biological Sciences plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/school-of-biological-sciences/.