Maya Ahia (she/her) is a master’s student in the Clinical & Counselling Psychology program at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Supervised by Dr. Amanda Uliaszek, her current research focuses on applying strength-based approaches to explore the intersections of accessibility, disability and student mental health.

Jessica is a second-year Psychology student at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She is intensely fascinated with mental health studies and envisions utilizing her degree to help children live meaningful, enjoyable lives. She was diagnosed with Autism at 16 and has come to understand plenty regarding the positive impact of a young diagnosis. Her long-term goal is to increase the general public’s understanding of developmental deviations, particularly in women, so that more children may get appropriate care at a younger age.

Ananya Bhattacharjee is a PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of Toronto, focusing on digital mental health interventions. His work, closely developed with Mental Health America and specialized clinicians, has impacted over 2,000 individuals through tailored, digital platforms. Ananya is the creator of the SPARK platform, which employs GPT-4 technology to assist students facing procrastination issues. His global partnerships with mental health helplines further enhance his multifaceted understanding of mental health needs in various populations. He is also a recipient of prestigious accolades, including the Wolfond Fellowship and a best paper award at CHI.

Rya is a first-year PhD student in the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Her research interests are broadly in the area of marginalized students’ mental health and support-seeking experiences. Her master’s thesis work focused on the experiences of racialized university students accessing wellness and mental health supports on campus. She is a recipient of the 2022 Inlight Research Fellowship.

Dinarshin is a first year undergraduate student with a burning desire to make positive change in the field of mental health. He aspires to become a psychiatrist and is driven by a deep commitment to helping individuals overcome their mental health challenges. Currently, he has dedicated his time to helping the community through roles as a Bridging Pathway Mentor and a Health & Counselling Volunteer. 

Delaram Farzanfar is a PhD student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on understanding brain activity during creative experiences and their implications for improved well-being. Dela is a registered psychotherapist in Ontario and has experience working in mental health in public institutions in Toronto. She is a junior fellow at Massey College, graduate fellow at the School of Cities, and serves on the Program Committee at the International Neuroethics Society. She hopes to improve long-term access to psychotherapy in Canada.

Jenny Hui (she/her) is pursuing her PhD in Counselling & Clinical Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (UofT). Her research focuses on resilience and mental health among BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals—particularly youth—and how intersecting identities inform health disparities and clinical interventions. Her Master’s thesis explored the lived experiences of bisexual East Asian youth in Canada. Jenny has co-facilitated AFFIRMative group therapy for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and adults, and she co-authored journal articles on multimodal research with 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Ultimately, Jenny’s scholarship strives to uplift the stories of people and communities under-represented in mental health research.

Madeline Kalda is an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Within her degree, she has focused on operations research and its applications in the healthcare industry; outside of her degree she has experience with the topic of student mental health through her work in student politics and her term on the University of Toronto Governing Council. Madeline hopes to make contributions in the area of rural mental health in the future.

Kate Kim is a fourth-year student at UofT St. George with a Psychology specialist and has been involved in a developmental psychology lab for almost 2 years. Due to her dual passion for combining human mental health and technology together, Kate is learning coding for UI/UX with the hopes of creating a middle ground. Kate is especially interested in the association between mob mentality and conformity, and the harmful romanticization of mental health issues as an unfavourable coping mechanism in the younger generation. Kate aspires to launch a platform that can work as an intermediary for mental health and therapists.

Mehakpreet Kaur Saggu, a sophomore studying neuroscience at the University of Toronto Scarborough, serves as Vice-President of Communications for a dynamic student-led neuroscience club. In this role, she promotes discussion, inspires interest, and brings awareness to the field of neuroscience. Her dedication and passion have recently been recognized with the Budding Scholar Award from the Department of Psychology at UTSC, an honor bestowed upon promising students with aspirations to excel in the fields of psychology and neuroscience. As an aspiring neurosurgeon, Mehakpreet envisions a paradigm of care that embraces holism, recognizing and valuing each patient as a distinct individual.

Anica is a registered nurse at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and a Master of Nursing (Clinical Stream) student at the University of Toronto. She obtained her Canadian Nurses Association Certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Her passion is understanding, caring, and advocating for individuals who live with mental illness. She is committed to sharing her passion for reducing the stigma around both people living with mental illness and people working in the mental health field. She hopes to inspire students to pursue a future career in mental health research and advocacy.

Charlie is a fourth-year student deeply immersed in the worlds of psychology and sociology. His passion lies in translating the knowledge he has gleaned from these fields into real-world applications, particularly in the realm of mental health. As the former Mental Wellness Commissioner at Victoria University Students Administrative Council, Charlie spearheaded mental health initiatives, events, and advocacy, effecting positive change in student life. Charlie is dedicated to cultivating a healthier and more empathetic environment for his fellow students while also pushing the boundaries of research in the pursuit of a more compassionate and informed society.