Fides Arguelles (they/them/theirs) is a clinical psychology graduate student in the STEPP Lab under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Uliaszek at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Their research aims to understand the intersecting experiences of queer and trans students with mental health-related disabilities, with a focus on minority stress and emotion dysregulation. Fides has previously engaged in community-based initiatives and research to advocate for best practices in research and teaching for 2S/LGBTQIA+ and racialized students in higher education. Their future endeavours are to develop gender-affirming frameworks for psychotherapeutic interventions targeting emotion dysregulation among trans and gender-diverse individuals. 

Ayanika Bhattacharjee is a fourth-year Mental Health Studies Specialist student at the University of Toronto Scarborough with a strong passion for clinical psychology, mental health research, and understanding human behaviour. Her research interests lie in child-clinical psychology, emotion dysregulation, and personality pathology/personality disorders. She has experience in clinical and developmental psychology research, including qualitative interviewing, data analysis, and mental health advocacy. Ayanika is particularly interested in trauma-informed care and improving access to culturally informed mental health support for diverse communities. 

Amira El-Rayes is an undergraduate student with a strong interest in mental health advocacy and support for students facing academic stress alongside personal and external life challenges. Passionate about creating supportive and understanding spaces, Amira hopes to pursue a future in psychology and mental health work focused on student wellbeing, resilience, and accessible care. Through academic and community involvement, Amira aims to help individuals feel heard, supported, and connected during difficult times. 

Ankita is a fourth-year PharmD student at UofT who is passionate about mental health, health equity, and patient education. She is especially interested in supporting South Asian communities through pharmacy care, with a focus on improving health literacy and helping patients better understand their medications. Through her research and clinical experiences at The Hospital for Sick Children, Ankita has also developed a strong interest in pediatric health. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys analyzing how mental health and addiction are portrayed in media and how these representations shape public understanding and stigma. 

Sandy is a second-year PhD student in the department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. She holds an MSc Neuroscience degree from Queen’s University, as well as an HBSc from McMaster University. Sandy’s research focuses on student perfectionism and wellbeing, where her work explores digital interventions and draws on psychotherapeutic models to support student mental health in applied settings. Sandy is also involved in community engagement and advocacy work as a National Project Specialist at the Mood Disorders Society of Canada and is committed to amplifying lived experiences in mental health spaces within her research and everyday life. 

Anjana is a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health committed to advancing equitable, community-driven approaches to mental health. She currently serves as a Board Member at Kids Help Phone, Co-Chair of its National Youth Council, and a member of the Cam’s Kids National Leadership Committee, where she collaborates with youth across Canada to co-design accessible mental health resources and services. She is also a Research Assistant at the CAMH WHO Collaborating Centre, investigating alcohol-attributable harms to inform prevention and policy, and serves on the CAMH Constituency Council. 

Mohammad Usman is a third-year Human Biology and Psychology student with a desire to be in the healthcare field. Through his career and research opportunities, he wants to work and make a positive contribution to the UofT community, especially in the area of Mental Health. He is particularly interested in studying the impact of social media on mental health, development, and addiction in youth and students. Through his positions as an academic mentor and athletic camp counsellor, Usman hopes to ignite a passion for academia and sports to the next generation.   

Cherrie Wei is a third-year psychology undergraduate student passionate about mental health and psychopathology research. She is motivated to apply rigorous, evidence-based approaches to better understand and alleviate distress among youth. Cherrie hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist, supporting individuals in building more fulfilling and meaningful lives.