Louisa Benton ’82 serves as Executive Director of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (www.hopefordepression.org), based in Manhattan with a second office in Florida. Before joining HDRF in 2013, she was part of the team that built the non-profit Worldfund, focused on education in Latin America. She also led development efforts of several major non-profits including American Ballet Theatre, Theatre for a New Audience and the American Associates of the Royal Academy Trust. Earlier in her career, she worked as a journalist and wrote for “The Miami Herald,” “St. Peterburg Times” and “The New York Times.” Louisa graduated from Harvard College and holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University. She lives in New York.
*Published in the 2022 Alumnae Bulletin
When did your interest in the mental health field begin? Is there a memory from your earlier years that stands out?
One afternoon when I was 17, I had a revelation. I was sitting on a porch watching sailboats on a bay. A pervasive feeling of well-being washed over me, and I reflected on my good fortune. Then I reflected on the fact that I was able to reflect on my own experience — on my own existence. Thus began a lifelong interest in the brain and how a three-pound mass of tissue is capable of being aware of itself. But even before that, I was interested in mental health because it pulled at my heart. Growing up, a close family member went in and out of the hospital with severe depression, but we never talked about it. There’s been so much shame around mind-body illness.
What is the mission of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation?
I’m in my ninth year at HDRF, and it’s like having a portal to the future. Our main goal is to spur research into the biological basis of depression in order to discover better treatments and an actual physical diagnosis. The term “Depression” includes related mood disorders like PTSD, postpartum depression, anxiety and suicidality. To achieve our mission, HDRF has convened the Depression Task Force — a team of top brain scientists from different universities who are pooling expertise and data to accelerate discovery. At this writing, we have an exciting clinical trial underway at Mount Sinai and Columbia, and others in the pipeline. In the past few years, I’ve also created programs to raise community awareness and mental health literacy for parents and teens. Our work makes one thing very clear: depression is a medical illness that has nothing to do with a person’s “strength” or “character.” It’s extraordinary to be able to say to people who are dealing with Major Depressive Disorder, “You know what? It’s not your fault.”
Did your organization pivot during the pandemic? If so, how?
The pandemic has put mental health squarely at the top of our national agenda. Two in five American adults report symptoms of anxiety and depression, and over 40 percent of teenagers state they struggle with constant sadness or hopelessness. These are alarming trends that were burgeoning before the pandemic and are only worse now. In response to this spike in depression, HDRF has begun a fast-track research program called the New Treatment Initiative. We have awarded sizeable grants to four universities in order to accelerate novel, promising treatments for depression to the clinical trial stage. In addition, during the height of Covid, we wrote a daily newsletter, “Hope at Home,” where we provided tips for maintaining mental health during a time of disruption, isolation and anxiety.
Can you describe what a “day in the office” looks like for you? What are your chief responsibilities as Executive Director?
Every day is different. I keep my team (about 20 full and part-time staff) focused on building our mental health awareness programs and events around the country. One of our flagship programs is the Race of Hope, a 5K event which takes place in Southampton and Palm Beach and attracts runners from all over the country. We’re planning to expand that to other cities soon. I also reach out to public figures who have been open about their own depression such as Michael Phelps, Brooke Shields, Ashley Judd and Anderson Cooper. All of these celebrities have spoken at our annual fundraiser in New York City, giving voice to the voiceless and elevating the national conversation about mental health.
We have also started education programs for high schools to help young people start thinking about mental health using science, rather than their fear, as a guide. We’ve brought scientists and other experts to Town Hall-type forums, where they engage students on topics like social media, and bullying and mental health. One of the best parts of my job is learning from the scientists and sharing their findings with the general public. I have to distill the very complex neuroscience — the genetics, epigenetics, chemistry, molecular biology — of depression and translate it into every day English, so people who want to understand more about the causes of clinical depression can do so.
What do you find most rewarding about your work at HDRF? Most challenging?
Running HDRF is the perfect marriage of my skills and interests and the need to do something concrete for people I love who are struggling. I think that is the most powerful motivator of all. The bravery of the young people I meet is also so moving. One year we traveled to at-risk kids in their schools to talk with them about bullying and its impact on mental health. We saw even the toughest kids start to open up about their personal experiences; their teacher later said they were deeply impacted by the information we provided.
The most challenging part of my work is the complexity of the science. New treatments are sorely needed, and yet so little has changed in the treatment of depression since the advent of Prozac, the first SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), over 35 years ago. It is tragic to think that 50 percent of patients do not fully respond to existing medications and cannot get the relief they need. Psychiatry needs to do better, and it will. We live in a time when brain science is exploding. HDRF can fully exploit all the new advances. because of our interdisciplinary approach. It is not something that is going to happen overnight, but we can imagine a future when depression is treated with precision for each individual.
How long were you at Chapin? What resonates most about your years there?
I attended Chapin through seventh grade when my family moved to Washington, DC. Chapin was everything to me, actually. My friends, my classes, my teachers, New York in the seventies — it was a magical time, without internet. We played jacks in the hallway. We had yo-yos, rope bracelets and bus passes. We laughed so much and got into good mischief! I just had my 40th Reunion. Our friendships are still going strong and connect us to those wonderful days.
In what ways do you feel Chapin prepared you for college, graduate school, and the adult world? What particular skills (academic, artistic, social, emotional) or interests did Chapin help foster?
The academics at Chapin were top notch. Mostly, for me, it was an empowering environment with legendary role models like Headmistress Mildred Berendsen, as well as Ruth Proffitt and Nicky Chapin. The list goes on. All of these great educators showed us how to live with a deep sense of authenticity, personal agency, humor and compassion. They also helped to cultivate my lifelong love of learning.
What other aspects of your life played a role in who you are today and what you’ve achieved?
Although I studied science in college, I got a love of theater and words from my dad, a Broadway producer and book publisher. That’s why ultimately, I went into journalism and communications.
What advice would you give to current Chapin students or young alums who may be interested in pursuing a career in psychology, healthcare or related fields? How might you consider yourself a role model for young people?
Do it! We need mental health professionals more than ever before. It’s one of the most exciting fields. I would also suggest taking a primer in neurobiology to understand the connection between brain biology and mental health. Even if you think you don’t like science, don’t be afraid to sweat a little.
How do you like to relax and decompress?
I meditate a lot. We know meditation has the ability to rewire the brain in healthy ways. And I love to sail and surf. To be on the water, working with the elements, you have to be fully present. It is completely grounding.