As Mental Health Awareness Month concluded in May, volunteers from the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Ventura participated in a global outreach to provide practical mental health tools to the community. The effort comes amid concerning statistics: a Pew Research study found that roughly half of American adults under 30 consider managing stress a major challenge, and one in three rate their mental health as only fair or poor—higher than any older demographic. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in May declaring the country's youth to be in a mental health crisis.
To address these issues, volunteers set up at the Ventura Pier Boardwalk over the weekend, offering free stress tests and information about Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, by L. Ron Hubbard. First published in 1950, the book has sold over 20 million copies and is part of an international movement reaching 225 countries and territories. The word Dianetics is derived from the Greek dia meaning "through" and nous meaning "mind or soul," referring to "what the mind is doing to the body."
The outreach was particularly impactful for individuals facing acute stress. One visitor, recently laid off, experienced significant anxiety affecting his family. After a stress test, he recognized the need to take control of his life, purchased a copy of the book, and scheduled a complimentary Dianetics counseling session. For volunteers, such interactions underscore the importance of year-round mental health support.
"Mental health awareness should not end when May ends; mental health is essential year round," said Nancy Herman, a volunteer with the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Ventura. "People we met were dealing with work pressure, family concerns, financial anxiety and the everyday stress of life in Ventura. Dianetics gives them a practical way to understand the source of that stress and tools they can use to take control of it."
The Ventura event was part of a coordinated global Dianetics outreach involving volunteers in over 250 cities across 50 nations, from Los Angeles to London and New York to New Delhi. Teams distributed the book, which is available in 50 languages, and invited attendees to local lectures and seminars. The Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Ventura continues to offer introductory demonstrations and weekend seminars. For more information, visit dianetics.org.
