Graduated Fellows

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In partnership with The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada, the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health kicked off the fifth cohort of the LET(s)Lead Academy on September 16, 2021, with 12 emerging leaders with lived experience. After ten weeks of classes about transformational leadership, mental health advocacy, and cultural humility and justice, Fellows engaged with mentors to create a transformational community project to use their newly developed leadership skills in their local area. The academy met monthly for leadership development and project support until graduation in May 2022.

Camille (she/her) is a Master of Psychology student and Certified Peer Support Worker in Toronto, Canada. She has been involved in the mental health community for over 10 years and is passionate about advocacy, social justice, and improving access to services for diverse mental health communities.

Mental health and addiction have been the overarching themes of my life. Today I live in the solution uncovered by over a decade of persistently unravelling the issues at the core of my ailments. I wouldn’t have made it without the guidance of my peers and several therapists at CAMH.

Despite being a run-away immigrant from Romania with a seemingly bad drinking problem, I graduated Cum Laude from York University (2006) wanting to become useful to others, as a psychotherapist. Therefore, I am here to share my lived experience and to symbiotically create a powerful force for change. One of my hopes is to help underprivileged women become the makers of their own dignified future, despite their past.

Like all of us, I have many hats: recovery peer, AA member, avid pet lover, person with chronic illness, supportive friend, loving partner, comedienne, and self-proclaimed academic!

Adam is a researcher, speaker, health enthusiast, and striving stoic philosopher. From a young age, he encountered physical and mental health challenges.

Paired with a passion for scientific research and a BSc. Honors degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences, his experiences motivated him to learn and implement evidence-based strategies to achieve optimal health. These include the use of exercise, nutrition, meditation, sleep, and positive daily habits adjunctive to traditional psychiatric interventions. His goals are severalfold: Research the effects of nutrition therapy on mental health, blur the lines between mental and physical health, and integrate dietetics & exercise therapy into standard treatment.

He sits on the CAMH Youth Advisory Group, Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder Youth Advisory Council, is a Research & Content Development Coordinator for the Luminate Mental Health Conference Series, and is currently in the review process of his first primary authorship research paper.

??Lucie Langford (she/her/hers) is a Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) student in Toronto, Canada who works to innovate healthcare through research. Her research is informed by her own lived experience and focuses on serious mental illness. Lucie deeply believes in patient-centric models of research and care. She uses this unique engagement approach with her community to develop new questions. In her spare time, Lucie is an avid cyclist and passionate volunteer.

Taryn Lee is an artist and part-time youth art teacher at a private school in downtown Toronto. She has a Bachelor of Design from Ryerson University in Fashion Communication.

At 18 years old, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has worked hard at recovery and maintaining stability ever since. She’s participated in bipolar research studies and taken courses on anxiety, CBT, depression, and bipolar disorder at CAMH.

She is an active Workman Arts member and loves the welcoming creative community it provides. In 2020, she exhibited 3 juried artworks in the Workman Arts Being Scene show. Through lived experience, she realizes how deeply connected creating art helps maintain her mental health. She believes art and creativity can be used as expression, tools for healing, building confidence and fostering community. It is her hope to share her passion for the arts with others on their own mental health journeys and uncover the creativity that lies within each of us.

Susana Meza (she/they) is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist and facilitator from Maracaibo, Venezuela. Susana holds an Audiovisual Journalism diploma from La Universidad del Zulia. They are an Active Listener for Workman Arts, a Newcomer Artist Ambassador for MABELLEarts, and a member of the board of directors of the North York Women Centre.

Susana has facilitated visual arts and creative writing workshops for various local communities and currently facilitates Art Cart sessions for the Geriatric Inpatient Services of CAMH. Susana works on her daily art practice from her home studio and her poetry, even though unpublished, has been featured often by Writers Collective of Canada (WCC).

Miranda Newman is a writer and editor based in Toronto (Tkaronto), ON. Her work has appeared in Broadview Magazine, Xtra, The Walrus, and more.

Drawing upon her lived experience, Miranda primarily writes about mental health covering topics like borderline personality disorder, agoraphobia, eating disorders, suicide in children, and more. She's co-editor of a yearly arts and letter publication and publishes Life as a Lunatic, a monthly newsletter about coping with symptoms of trauma and mental illness.

Miranda is a youth advisor to CAMH's Client Learning Fund (CLF), a bursary program that provides financial aid to clients enrolled in educational and personal development courses, and a volunteer member of CAMH's National Youth Action Council (NYAC).

Kenzie Osborne is a recipe developer, health coach, and chef in Toronto, Ontario. She has lived experience with anorexia nervosa and has since used her culinary education to help promote food and body positivity within the community. She has interviewed over 40 chefs across the world to share their stories and raise awareness about the therapeutic role of food and cooking.

Her goal is to raise awareness about the power of food in terms of: identifying with culture, expressing creativity, exploring history, promoting social interactions, and benefitting overall physical and mental health. She hopes to help others overcome food-related challenges and encourage food to be a positive component in their lives.

Shantell or Shan (pronouns: she/he) is a 2-spirit urban Inuk with Mi’kmaw and Canadian ancestry. Shan grew up on the land with many traditional teachings, but outside of the community.

Raised in a nomadic forager/hunter/farmer family throughout the Atlantic provinces and British Columbia, she had no fixed address throughout much of her childhood. She currently resides on the Haldimand Tract in Kitchener, Ontario.

Shan reindigenizes by claiming the heritage denied to her by Canada’s ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples. She is learning about human trafficking, de-escalation, trauma responses, anger management, mindfulness, harm reduction, advocacy, traditional Inuit philosophy, and how to deal with police through the Alluriarniq program at Tungasuvvingat Inuit in Ottawa.

When she's not hanging out with her chinchillas, she is an advocate, land defender, storyteller, performer, writer, forager, and multidisciplinary artist made of go-go-go! Her work has been published in several literary journals, academic journals, art magazines, and anthologies, and her visual art has been shown in art galleries, museums, and quirky little coffee shops and pubs. You can find more of Shantell’s work on IG: @shanmonster or on her blog: http://shanmonster.dreamwidth.org.

Hajar is a 4th-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Scarborough doing a double major in Mental Health Studies and Political Science. She currently works as a research assistant at Women’s College Hospital in their Reproductive Health & HIV branch and is a Youth Policy Advocate with OCIC’s Youth Policy-Makers Hub. Her work is shaped by an intersectional lens, gained from engagements spanning youth mental health and policy spaces. She is passionate about using her experiences to support youth advocacy and transform systems.

I have a genuine passion for combining my extensive training as a multi-disciplined artist/musician, along with my dedication to community engagement. I am interested in building programs that promote the arts as therapeutic tools for healing and recovery.

I have extensive experience working with those challenged by addictions and mental health as well as working with Toronto’s homeless LGBTQ+2S community. I am particularly proud of my involvement in helping create The 519’s Breaking The Ice (BTI) project, which is a community engagement and outreach program focused on supporting people who use crystal meth in Toronto’s Downtown East and has a specific focus on understanding the needs and barriers faced by LGBTQ2S people who use drugs.

Jessica has an erudite understanding and deep insight of mental health and recovery through various experiences and roles throughout her life. She has a Master of Nursing, has tutored university students, and has worked in many health settings. She advocates for peers as leaders and educators and values initiatives that promote recovery, choice, and reduce stigma. Jessica has a strong interest in literature and the creative arts.

Morgan is currently employed in a number of roles: as a mentor for tertiary students pursuing peer work, as a peer worker in acute inpatient settings, and as a support officer at a community drop-in centre for after-hours mental health support. She is a Lived Experience representative on a number of panels, committees, boards, and networks. In 2021, she was awarded for her contribution to the Queensland Health Mental Health Scholarship Scheme. Morgan is a qualified lawyer, working over a decade in the private sector and then for State and Commonwealth governments, including stints with the ABC, and as a Parliamentary Liaison for the NSW Rural Fire Service. Morgan has an undergraduate degree in Business and negotiated an Associate Researcher role with the CSIRO, conducting qualitative research across various State governments regarding risk reporting for the Murray Darling Basin Plan. Morgan is interested in the continued professionalisation/professionalization of the Lived Experience workforce. Particularly, she is interested in identifying common issues experienced by people re-engaging in the workforce and examples of what has worked. She believes leaders are those people that make you feel brave enough to contact them. Please feel welcome to reach out, to me or anyone here. Thank you for this opportunity, Yale. Yale!!

Rob Goulden grew up in country Victoria and now resides in Western Australia with his wife and 2 daughters. Rob served in the Australian Army as a rifleman and deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a member of SECDETXIIV. Post discharge from the military in 2011, Rob has had numerous roles in sales, insurance, finance, and banking before settling into a role as a peer support worker at Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counseling supporting veterans and their families. Rob draws on his own lived experience of injury, blame, diagnosis, isolation, and recovery to help support those he engages with. Rob is extremely passionate about supporting veterans through their transition journey and places a large focus on Acceptance, Purpose, and Connection. Having left the military and struggled with self-identity, integration back into the ‘civilian’ world, and finding purpose, Rob is constantly exploring new ideas and methods to make that transition more seamless for those he feels privileged to connect with. Rob is an active member of multiple veteran support groups and strongly advocates for the benefits of being involved within one's local community. Rob completed his Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work in 2020.

Paula Hanlon is a person with lived experience of trauma with associated disorders and alcohol abuse (sober 30yrs). She has been a consumer lived experience peer worker for over 24yrs, based in a community mental health service in Northern Sydney. In her role, she supports other people with lived experience individually and in groups and participates in systemic advocacy, health promotion, and education of staff and students. As an educator, Paula works with students through the University of Technology, Sydney and the University of Western Sydney. Paula has a BA majoring in Psychology, though she prefers to work as a peer worker. Paula has been an Assessor with the Australian Council on Health Care Standards, reviewing mental health and general health services across Australia for 22yrs. Paula is a Board member for the TheMHS Learning Network and Flourish Australia.

Kath Ives is an mixed media artist, a foodie, a wife, and mother to a miniature schnauzer, two cats, and two chickens. She has qualifications in applied science and speech language pathology, however reports that her most rewarding and most challenging role to date has been that of mental health advocate. Kath currently works as volunteer coordinator at Happy Chat (a consumer-led mental health peer support group) in Stanthorpe, Queensland. Under her leadership, Happy Chat has been recognized and named as finalist of the Jude Bugeja Peer Experience Award for Qld Mental Health Week 2021 and been successful in obtaining grant funding to support the group into the future. Kath describes herself as a mental health activist. She has mental health lived experience as both a consumer and carer and continues to be instrumental in petitioning for better access to mental health services and support in her small town and surrounding region. She is driven by human rights and social justice with particular interest in addressing the poverty, loneliness, and boredom experienced by many vulnerable people with mental health issues who live in her community. Kath has been described as a social capitalist. She believes in the importance of investing in people, not things. The objective of her work is to help build a platform for people to feel like they belong; that they are valued and important. Kath believes that a sense of community can only be achieved through building connections via social inclusion. It is her goal to integrate her tertiary knowledge with her mental health lived experience to develop a project that combines two of her great loves—food and community.

Zoey identifies as an Australian between cultures and is currently working as the Lived Experience Project Lead at Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia. She is a qualified Change Practitioner and has completed her Bachelor of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in Global Project Management. Zoey is committed to amplifying the voice of lived experience and strives to ignite hope and inspire people who struggle with intersectional identity in Australia to live a mentally healthier life.

Natasha is a fierce mum of four, a networker, connector, and strategic thinker. Natasha speaks authentically and connects with her audience to build deep understanding of the intersections between mental health recovery, suicide prevention, and domestic and family violence survival. After significant life- changing events and experiences, Natasha realized that systemic changes and increased community awareness were required for people to access appropriate supports. Natasha is deeply committed to enabling people to take back power and control in their lives through advocacy and education facilitated by lived experience. Natasha holds qualifications in Business and Mental Health Peer Work. She is currently studying Training and Assessment and is a Fellow of the Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy (LET(s)Lead) - Yale PCRH.

Vicki McKenna is the Head Of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre at Black Dog Institute where she is leading the development and implementation of the Centre. Vicki belongs to two tribal groups. She is both a Yawuru and Bunuba Jarndu (woman) based in Rubibi-Broome, Western Australia. She has had significant experience working in social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention. Notably, Vicki was the Kimberley Suicide Prevention Trial coordinator over the last 3 years, implementing suicide prevention activities across the entire Kimberley region. She is a trained Counsellor and a Child Psychotherapist. Vicki has lived experience, having lost family and community members to suicide and has her own experience of suicidality. She has commitment to social justice and change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and applies her cultural knowledge and skills in her work and prioritises cultural healing as a way forward. Her long-term sustainable vision is to work together to advance the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People nationally. She is a respected member of the Aboriginal community, in suicide prevention and the mental health profession nationally and internationally.

Sam Nachabe studied Business Admin and from 2010, worked in various Admin roles for a psychologist, a medical practise and an education agency. She studied a double diploma in Counseling and Community Services in 2014 after feeling unsatisfied with the role of Admin and feeling a need to contribute to the community in seeing change for people in the community not feeling like they had a voice or unsure how to get support. In 2016, Sam worked as a Coordinator Caseworker and Community Development Worker for a domestic violence organisation called Shakti Australia, an NGO supporting women from non-English speaking backgrounds with their development, empowerment, and domestic/ family violence intervention, prevention, and awareness. She volunteered from 2015 to 2017 for SSI Settlement Services International to support new migrants with accessing services in NSW. In 2017, Sam ran an Arabic Women’s support group for Carers of Consumers with a lived experience, for the organisation One Door Mental Health, then took a role as a Peer Support Worker for the PICS (Primary Integrated Care Supports) program with the same organisation in 2018. In 2021, she took a dual role with One Door Mental Health PICS as an NDIS Access Peer Worker, supporting consumers apply for a national disability insurance scheme whilst also still working part-time as a Peer Worker and is currently in the same role.

Emma O’Loughlin (she/her) grew up in and lives on Nukunu Country in regional South Australia. She is a proud lesbian woman who has lived experience of mental ill health, personality disorder, suicidality, and physical disability. Emma utilises her lived experience as a training & group facilitator, in community engagement work and as a peer worker. Emma is very conscious of the privilege she holds in being asked to contribute to many spaces where others with similar lived experience are often excluded. She hopes by using her voice, it contributes to the increase of lived experience involvement in places of power and decision-making.

Max Simensen has worked in Mental Health Peer Worker roles for over 8 years in the public mental health system, with his first job being at a local headspace when he was 17. Max fell in love with being able to harness his lived experiences and personal learnings to sit with others in familiar dark places. Max is an openly trans man who is passionate about the rainbow community but also embraces all other diversities of the human condition and pushes for social justice. Max has experienced intense times of suicidal thinking and behaviours over many years, and lost his younger sister two years ago after she took her own life. Max wants to change the way we look at suicide and how we hold space in those times. He is currently the SafeHaven Coordinator—which is a new peer-led service focused on offering an informal space staffed with people who have a lived experience of suicidality as an alternative to emergency departments.

Amelia is a youth mental health advocate, lived experience researcher, and peer worker. Amelia is passionate about youth lived experience leadership, promoting partnerships with young people in service reform, and addressing structural issues within the mental health sector, including service gaps and barriers to accessing services. She has drawn upon her lived experience in governance positions as a Youth Advisor to the headspace Board and with EMPHN’s Community Advisory Committee. She has promoted mental health sector reform through advocacy and engagements with state and national government, strategic media communications, as a witness to parliamentary enquiries, and in facilitating a delegation of youth advocates to develop a model of mental health system reform for the Productivity Commission. Amelia is currently completing a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne with the hope of ensuring the human rights of people experiencing mental ill-health.

Sarah is a sole parent of three children, three rescue cats, and one anyone’s- guess-as-to-what-breed dog. Sarah and her children have a history of family violence-related trauma and continue to live with the social and psychological challenges associated with this. Sarah describes her family as a colourful, chaotic, combination of sexuality, gender, and neurodiversity. As a parent/carer and person living with psychosocial disability (which Sarah sees as a superpower), she has spent significant time navigating and accessing supports and services related to her and her family’s challenges. Studying and working in mental health throughout her journey, Sarah is fiercely determined to use her experiences as a consumer, carer, and provider, to create change and to support others to share their lived experiences. Sarah passionately believes in the need for services and systems to be driven by lived experience, and for lived experience roles to be genuinely valued within systems.

Some years ago, Craig's career in IT and Quality Assurance slowly morphed into a life on the "wrong side of the tracks", dealing in drugs, which led to a custodial sentence. While incarcerated, Craig completed Lives Lived Well’s Do-It program (now known as Reclaim). He liked the program so much and found it so valuable, that he completed it a second time while in jail. He became a Jail ‘Buddy’ mentor and taught the program in the jail to others who might not have been able to access it. Craig then made a promise to himself that once he was released, he would work for Lives Lived Well in some capacity. Fast-forward a few years and Craig applied for a position with LLW as a Client Advocate Representative. This part-time role opened up a world of possibilities for him, traveling throughout Queensland and sharing his story of recovery with those in programs, and explaining how he used the program in real life to align his future direction with a new set of values.

John works with Carers NT's Young Carers Program, which supports and sustains young carers in their caring roles. He is a proud carer for his mother, who suffers from mental illness and is an active ambassador for multiculturalism. He is fluent in English, Indonesian, and Burmese while also learning Arabic and Urdu. John completed a Bachelor of Business degree with management specialization from Charles Darwin University and undertook intensive studies in Indonesian International Business Law at the University of Gadjah Mada. John is currently enrolled for a Master of Education. Driven by passion and community spirit, John has experiences of working for the federal government agency, Northern Territory Government, and in not-for-profit sectors. His effectiveness and efficiency in delivering values to the community have honored him with a social work award in 2015, the NT government young achiever award in 2017, and several scholarships to broaden his horizon.

In partnership with The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada, the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health kicked off the seventh cohort of the LET(s)Lead Academy on September 15, 2022, with 12 emerging leaders with lived experience. After ten weeks of classes about transformational leadership, mental health advocacy, and cultural humility and justice, Fellows will engage with mentors to create a transformational community project to use their newly developed leadership skills in their local area. The academy will then meet monthly for leadership development and project support until graduation in May 2023.

Julia Bailey is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a double major in psychology and population health. Her lived experience has driven her to advocate for equal access to mental health care in her community and to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, from widely experienced disorders to those that remain unfairly marginalized.

Julia has contributed to several research initiatives, including a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of novel treatments for treatment-resistant depression and bipolar II disorder. Her research has also explored how youth experience citizenship and the extent to which they receive citizenship-oriented care. She continues to expand her expertise in clinical research to inform policy decision-making within the Canadian mental health care system and is eager to apply her knowledge and experience to drive meaningful change.

Vishali is a Tamil immigrant from Sri Lanka, who likes to brighten up the colour of her sky in every season of life with vivid poetry, nature photography, chocolate cake and impactful stories. Her research career focuses on cross-cultural psychology, stemming from her lived experiences and experiences with marginalized communities in India, Canada and Sri Lanka. She often collaborates with individuals and organizations from the Global South on research and design projects. In the past she has worked as a research consultant for The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health, based in India. She can often be found with her phone and her tripod near Lake Ontario to capture winter sunsets.

Chloë (she/her) is a young Queer woman who lives with her dog Stella and many, many shelves of books. She has been in recovery from addiction for a year and a half, and lives with mental illness. Chloë is of service in multiple addiction recovery programs, with her current role as a district chair for the Hospitals and Institutions trustee committee at the World Services level. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Social Work with dreams of being a peer support worker, hoping to work with people experiencing psychosis. Chloë spent the first year of the pandemic volunteering for her city counselor making sandwiches for local people in need, and currently volunteers weekly in a grade one class at a local elementary school. She has a background in theatre and finds comfort in creative outlets as a method of healing. Chloë is incredibly excited to be a fellow in this year's Toronto cohort of the Yale LET(s) LEAD program!

Dion Flores was born in Toronto where he went to elementary and high school where he took pride in his academics and musical studies. When he was 17, he moved to Waterloo, Ontario to attend Wilfrid Laurier University to study music education and piano. After graduating, Dion moved to St. John's, Newfoundland to pursue graduate studies and Teacher's College. For the last three years, he has been a music teacher teaching in private studios, elementary schools, and in the community.

This year, Dion is back at Laurier pursuing a second master's degree in Community Music with research focusing on mental health and social justice in Community Music. He is looking forward to growing with the Yale Let(s)Lead cohort this year!

Emma (she/her) is currently employed with the Ministry of the Attorney General within the Provincial Government of Ontario. She has been a public servant since graduating from Queen's University, Smith School of Business with a bachelor's degree in commerce. After going through psychosis that resulted in suicidal thoughts and eventually being diagnosed with a mental health illness, Emma was driven to make strides to help others through advocacy in her personal and professional life. Emma is passionate about changing the landscape within her organization when it comes to supporting those with lived experience and the adversity they face. She hopes that through robust policy development and hearing directly from those with lived experience, her workplace will implement the necessary training and decision-making required to further enhance the resources available to Ontario Public Servants.

Chloë Grande (she/her) is a communications specialist turned eating disorder recovery speaker, writer and blogger. In recovery for 10+ years, she's open about her experiences with mental illness and educating others on the stereotypes and stigmas that exist. Whether through speaking engagements, facilitating workshops or collaborating with leading mental health organizations, she strives to change the way we talk about eating disorders. Chloë holds an MA in Journalism and Communication from Western University and a BA in English Literature from Queen's University. She's a fan of restorative yoga and reading, and draws inspiration from individuals who embrace their vulnerabilities.

Jade Hui is a Buddhist, nonbinary Master's student from Hong Kong, studying religion and sexual diversity studies at the University of Toronto. Their major research paper focuses on asking "How might the Buddha and Buddhists guide a psychotic queer?", attempting to explore multiple responses, untangling a problem-cure framework and centering resources they themselves found helpful surviving as a Buddhist psychotic queer. Bridging gaps between Buddhist studies and Mad studies, they wish next to dive into postcolonial Hong Kong studies/Sinophone studies to track how identities are being policed by colonial mentalities and structures.

Aloha (she/her) is a proud Filipina youth mental health advocate from Scarborough, Ontario, and currently works as a Youth Engagement Specialist with CAMH. She has worked with a number of mental health non-profit organizations, which empower youth and young adults to remove the stigma surrounding mental health. Graduated with a degree and diploma in Justice Studies at the University of Guelph-Humber, and currently taking an Accelerated Law Clerk program at Seneca College, Aloha hopes she may combine her passion for mental health and the justice system to make a big change within her community. Through sharing and drawing from her own lived experience, she hopes that she'll be able to reach others who struggle with finding their full potential because they worry their mental health will get in the way of their success.

Hi, I'm Amber Phillips. I am an amateur photographer and the area that I live in is known for our beautiful sunsets on the shores of Lake Huron. Photography helps me get out of my head and focus on the beauty that surrounds me and in each photograph I take. I am a published writer and have written about my lived experience to help myself in my recovery process and to bring Hope to the person(s) reading my published pieces. Also, I like to read thrillers, play video games, knit and watch the waves on Lake Huron.

Angela Walcott is a Toronto-based multi-disciplinary artist whose interested include sustainable art practices; research geared towards chronicling the story/stories of early settlement patterns of African-Canadian and Afro-Caribbean communities; intergenerational trauma as a result of colonial settlement/de-settlement; displacement and community-building in the Caribbean, Latin and South America.

In partnership with National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (NMHCCF) and Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network (MHLEEN) in Australia, the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (Yale PRCH) began the eighth cohort of the LET(s)Lead Academy on February 10, 2023, with 15 emerging leaders with lived experience. After eleven weeks of classes about transformational leadership, mental health advocacy, and cultural humility and justice, Fellows are assigned mentors to support them in creating a transformational community project to use their newly developed leadership skills in their local area. The academy will continue to meet monthly for leadership development and project support until graduation in September 2023.

Harsh Bansal

My name is Harsh Bansal, and I am a Discipline Lead for the Carer Lived Experience Workforce at Austin Health. When individuals experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel. This also has an immense impact on their families, friends, colleagues, or any other significant loved ones. My innate passion is to support such families and carers who have been going through stressful experiences, helping them develop positive insights and self-care strategies for themselves. This eventually strengthens their sense of belonging within the community, allowing them to find peace, wholeness, and safety. I understand that there is no single approach that is right for every individual, so I strive to provide mindful listening to each family member and support them in their own ways. In my senior role at Austin Health, I aim to oversee the development of the carer lived experience voice in all Mental Health Division activities, including governance, operations, workforce business development, recruitment quality, and evaluation. My educational background includes certificate courses in suicide prevention, intentional peer support, and single session peer work. Additionally, I am currently pursuing a course in Lived Experience Transformational Leadership from the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health.

Heather Chapman

Heather Chapman (she/her) has lived experience of being a sibling and daughter of people with mental health distress. Since 2014, Heather has been involved in lived experience work, including collaborating with COPMI and Emerging Minds (Australia). Currently, she is a member of the Emerging Minds Family Forum. Heather is passionate about empowering carers/loved ones to share their experiences and ensuring that everyone has the language to share their story if/ how they want to. Heather hopes to contribute to a shift in mental health care, toward an intersectional relational recovery system.

Mel Charlton

I am blessed to live on the beautiful Gold Coast with my 4 children.I have worked predominantly with children, youth and disabled young people. Which I love. I am currently studying Art Therapy, Psychotherapy and counseling online. I'm enjoying being able to challenge myself with higher education. I am a F/T Carer for my adult son who has challenging and complex mental health and substance abuse issues, culminating in multiple suicide attempts. My work has highlighted for me gaps in the Mental Health arena for Children and Youth. My Lived Experience seeking supports and services for my son has at times been frustrating and humiliating. I look forward to being a part of the solution to help young people access supports and services in their local school district. I also look forward to helping to find ways to restore dignity to those seeking help within our hospital and community health systems.

I am excited to make connections and share ideas within the LETSLEAD program. I believe this is a life-changing opportunity.

Jess Collins-Roe

Jess has been one of Emerging Minds’ longest standing Child and Family Partners, generously sharing her lived experience and expertise across a wide range of projects in many different ways. Jess grew up in a complex family environment, with a mum experiencing mental illness. Jess is now a youth worker and the single foster parent of one, which has its many challenges, but she knows that it is definitely worth it and she feels lucky that she gets to be part of their life and watch them grow.

Kelli Copelin

Kelli has Lived and Living Experiences as someone with Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges as well as caring for loved ones with these challenges from a very young age. She has worked in Lived Experience roles for the last decade including as an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peer Worker, Advanced Peer Worker in an Emergency Department and is currently working as a Senior Peer Coordinator in a Rural service.

Wendy Cream

Wendy is committed to promoting the rights of all to have a meaningful and purposeful life, regardless of their circumstances. She has worked for the last 40 years both in government and non-government positions with many vulnerable communities in both rural/remote and metropolitan settings. The people she has worked with include First Nations people, the aged, those experiencing and perpetrating Family Violence, young children, those affected by mental health issues and currently as a mediator for separated families regarding children and property matters. Wendy’s Lived/living experience of being a family member, as a partner and currently as a mother, of mental health and drug and alcohol issues, has reinforced her continued resolve to see all people with mental health issues to be identified as individuals first, who have many needs, and for services to respond as such, in a manner that values others and includes them in the development of any care afforded to them.

Leanne Galpin

Leanne is Carer Consultant Project Officer within the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist in South Australia. She spent much of her working life in the corporate world before following her interest and passion for understanding mental health into support roles in inpatient wards, psychiatry training and now a lived experience role. Leanne is a family carer and represents the voices of carers of young people dealing with mental health, and negotiating the intersections of health, disability, education and justice systems on several committees and project groups. She believes in social justice and kindness and life-long learning.

Denna Healy

Denna is an open-minded, perseverent and adventurous person. She finds comfort and connection in writing and performing Spoken Word. Through this creativity, and also her study of counseling, Social Work and trauma, Denna has been able to express her lived experience learnings and thrive despite any challenges she has faced. Being a part of this program is a dream come true for many versions of herself, especially her inner child!!

Sarah Jarret

Sarah has been a Lived Experience Community & Peer Advisor at Open Arms, Veteran and Families Counseling in North Queensland since 2019. Sarah utilises her Lived Experience to support Clients with a person-centred approach on their recovery journey; advocate for change and improve awareness within her Organisation and the Community, to provide improved access and support for Defence Families; improve Community awareness and de-stigmatisation with the facilitation of programs such as Mental Health First Aid. While Sarah’s supports all Clients seeking support from her Organisation, her focus is on working with individuals impacted by the complexities of being in a military family, the transitional nature of Defence service and its effect post service on the partner, children and extended support networks. Sarah herself has experience in seeking assistance and the recovery process for depression, anxiety and isolation due to her Husband’s service. Sarah support her Husband’s journey with rehabilitation from physical injury and recovery from mental health challenges.

Alex Li

I support loved ones in my life facing various challenges, including complex trauma, chronic suicidality, and depression, for over 15 years. I walked this journey blindly; until a simple ‘how are YOU?’ from a service provider introduced me to a world of carer support, education, and community. My experiences – as a ‘hidden carer’, and as a first-generation immigrant – informed my focus on empowering carers who are unaware of their identity, and those from CALD communities who face specific and additional challenges not shared by the mainstream. I engage with the carer community through representation, advocacy, and education. I do so through peak bodies, local health organisations, and advocating with my loved ones on systemic issues. Apart from my life as a supporter, I have a 20-year professional life in policy, strategy, research, and training. I’ve practiced in international education, management consulting, and academic research. Away from these I enjoy learning Auslan (to address my own hard-of-hearing), reading (both for curiosity and leisure), and the outdoors.

Gemma Olsen

I identify as a person first and foremost, and after 11 years as a Lived Experience Practitioner, I am hopeful but tired. I have held many roles and identities throughout my life that have changed, flowed, grown, and ended. Some of these I have chosen, and some I have not. Some have been acknowledged and supported some have not. I have been and will continue to be part of a family on a journey, a journey which has included a kaleidoscope of experiences including joy, love, grief, connection, disconnection, and loss- loss of life, loss of relationships, loss of power and voice, loss of access to human rights and loss of opportunities. I bring these experiences to my life and work and hope to give others the space to do so. I am someone who, among many other things, asks a lot of questions, sings, loves, cries, seeks adventure, advocates for my circle and a much wider one, gardens, creates for the sake of creating, walks alongside people in my life on both the lighter and the harder days while they walk alongside me, has just the right amount of cats and one doggy, gets frustrated, dances at random times, freezes, has two gorgeous young people who call me mum, walks into furniture that gets in my way, feels strongly, has a cheeky and loyal hubby, plays Xbox quite badly, loves the water and the trees and keeps coming back into the ring to be a part of the healing that is needed for our communities to live life together in a kinder, fairer and more open way, where experiences of distress and the experiences that come with it and lead from it are much less traumatic and dare I say a seen, heard and supported part of life.

Alison Penny

Alison Penny, is a Family Support Coordinator for the Lived Experience and Community Strategy Section of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Division of the Department of Veteran Affairs. Came to this role after spending some amazing time learning about peer work whilst being a Community and Peer Advisor (Family) with Open Arms, an organisation that supports Veteran Families in their mental health journeys. I came to this role through my experience of being a defence spouse for 20 years, and the experiences that my family journeyed through and continue to journey through as a result of military service. Parent of two amazing children who have enabled me to see new world views and learn new ways of thinking. Lived experience of caring for a family member wanting to end their own life. Being a Veteran Family and navigating services and lack of services and waitlists in different states and territories and caring for a Defence member going through mental health distress due to military service. Professional expertise is in advocating for Defence Families to enable them to navigate the systems in which they find themselves in. Community engagement in the Not-for-profit sector to raise the awareness and support of young people living in a family impacted through mental health. Using my lived and living experience to develop authentic relationships through sharing my journey as a mum, wife, carer, passenger and service navigator as a Peer. Using my lived and living experience of the systems to develop lived experience ways of working within a government organisation.

Anna Scheepers

Anna lives in Adelaide and delights in being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and Christian. Those relationships have all held deep complexity, experience of crisis and distress, caring responsibilities, cultural differences, and competing worldviews, which has and continues to shape how Anna participates in the world and is present with others. As an introspective person and critical thinker, Anna has always been drawn to processes of meaning making and coming alongside others with curiosity to explore what collective or individual belonging, power, value, and confidence looks like, feels like, and sounds like. Anna is passionate about cultivating collective clarity, connection, and confidence in the Lived Experience informed approach as a professional discipline and understanding the nuance of specialist perspectives in delivering a specific point of difference. Anna’s heart is for creating sustainable infrastructure that Consumer and Carer expertise may be embedded and elevated to hold effective place, power, purpose, and collaboration in every sphere of influence.

Begonya Ward

I identify as a mother; my son has experiences that affects him negatively in his mental health. I am a person with lived experience as a family member, at times I am a career. My passion is to find ways to advance the system towards recovery, to advocate against stigma, promoting understanding, communication and education. When my family fell into this experience, I felt ill prepared to support my son. I felt unsupported in my attempts to navigate the system and found it difficult to have my voice heard. I was not part of the decision making, nor was I given choices. When I realized the system was flawed, I educated myself for change. I took part in Curtin’s Lived Experience Educator unit in 2020. I work in the disabilities sector as a team leader for a non-for-profit organization. I believe in using our own power to stay well, but I believe it cannot be done in isolation, the whole community has a role to play, not just to empower and support people in distress, the vulnerable and those in need, but to create the paths and opportunities for them to help themselves. We can do this by creating policies and services that best serve people’s needs and recovery, focusing on solutions, not interests and by incorporating families and supporters in a meaningful and consistent way. It would be interesting to work in projects aligned to my beliefs, targeting my goals of creating equality in our communities, systems that reflect best practices and are accountable. My interest focus on identifying gaps in those systems and creating practical change.

Vee Wilson

I am autistic, ADHD, and I’m a carer and advocate for three family members within the areas of NDIS, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, community mental health services, and educational institutes. I hold a B.Soc.Sc., Children and Family Studies and have experience in early childhood education, child protection, disability, and aged-care. I am passionate about co-design, kindness, inclusion and connection, and establishing shared values. I am committed to seeking systemic change that empowers all people to participate equitably within social, educational, and professional environments. I believe that language and perspective-taking is central to seeking collaborative change and effective lived and learnt experience knowledge partnerships. I design and deliver online education workshops to enable people living and working within disability and mental health to develop shared understanding of diverse perspectives and to co- create strategies for meaningful change.

Hafsa Abdulsamed

Hafsa Abdulsamed is currently pursuing a master’s degree in psychotherapy with a focus on Islamic theology. She plans to leverage her lived experience and religious beliefs to provide holistic care for her clients. Hafsa wants to create a safe and inclusive space for her community to express themselves and share knowledge. She has a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology that has equipped her with valuable skills and perspective allowing her to integrate physical health, spirituality, and emotional well-being into a comprehensive framework. She is the founder of Born Somali, a non-profit organization based in Toronto that is committed to preserving Somali culture through art. She has organized dance, language, and culinary workshops for youth. Their programs aim to reimagine wellness from a Somali lens.

Renata She-Lee Husbands

Renata’s life journey is a testament to resilience and perseverance amidst staggering odds. Born into a family that struggled with addiction, mental health, and incarceration, Renata became lost and found herself facing a criminal conviction at age 18. By the time she was 26, she was blessed with two beautiful children. After relocating to Toronto, Renata struggled to find a stable community, moving 32 times, and even experiencing the horrors of homelessness. In the face of these traumatic life experiences, Renata was determined to continue her journey towards happiness. Identifying and understanding her struggles with mental illness led Renata into more stability. She identifies stumbling upon the Collaborative Learning College at CAMH as a turning point in her life and enjoys the safe space of their online classes. Shereceived a pardon for her past criminal record in 2022 and is currently happily engaged to be married. She is an extremely proud fellow of Yale’s LET(s) Lead Academy, and an energetic volunteer at CAMH’s Suits Me Fine. Her project #DressToImpressYourself examines the relationship between clothing and mental health.

Katelyn Greer

Katelyn draws from her personal mental health journey, having overcome a suicide attempt at 17 that nearly led to the amputation of her leg. Transformed by these experiences, she now dedicates herself to meaningful work as a Peer Support worker, specializing in assisting youth and families. With a deep commitment to making a difference, Katelyn has lent her voice to policy briefs, co-authored research, and fearlessly shared her story at events attended by over 500 individuals. Today, she offers her expertise as a contracted Research Assistant and

Consultant, focusing on Peer Support, research engagement, and social enterprise.

Sara Hashemi

Sara Hashemi is a student living in Toronto, with a love and passion for photography, poetry writing, and books. She is completing her final year of undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, where she studies psychology and bioethics. Her lived experiences combined with her education in psychology have led her to advocate for mental health education that is critical, intersectional, and lived experience centered. She previously participated in a youth-mental health participatory photo voice project, and since then, she has developed a passion for participatory and community-engaged research in mental health. She hopes to use her experiences and skills to advocate for equitable and intersectional mental health research, education, and policies.

Hanan Hazime

Hanan Hazime is a multidisciplinary artist, creative writer, community arts educator and creative writing instructor living in Tkaronto/Toronto. She identifies as a Mad/Neurodivergent Lebanese-Canadian Shi’a Muslimah feminist and Mad Pride activist.

Hanan has a Master of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Windsor. Her writing has appeared in a number of publications including The Windsor Review, Feckless C***: An Anthology of Feminist Writing, and on CBC Arts. Hanan's poetry chapbook Aorta was published by ZED Press in 2018. She is currently working on a book of poetry and a novel.

When not writing or creating art, Hanan enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction novels, overanalyzing things, photo-blogging, dancing with faeries in the woods, and drinking copious amounts of tea.

Andriy Hrabchuk

Andriy Hrabchuk (he/him) is a twenty-one-year-old undergraduate completing his Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Development Studies. He is a proud Autistic and queer trans man who has dedicated much of his academic career to advocacy and research for the betterment and empowerment of his communities. Andriy is also a survivor of intimate partner violence, a time in his life that forever changed who he was and how he navigates the world. He is dedicated to making meaning from his experiences with IPV, PTSD and institutional violence through a restorative lens because he believes that everyone, including those who have caused harm, are deserving of support and opportunities for healing and growth. He plans to pursue law school and graduate school to continue having an impact on his communities through evidence-based social policy. Outside of school, Andriy is passionate about residence life, cats, books and continuing his forever ongoing recovery.

María Cristina Sabourin Jovel

María Cristina Sabourin Jovel, better known by her pen name “Queen María,” holds a BSc and a MSc from Kharkiv State University in Ukraine and a MA from Carleton University in Ottawa. She is extremely passionate about social justice and mental health accessibility, advocating to bring resources into BIPOC/ACB communities and to individuals with disabilities.

Queen María facilitates weekly ACB/BIPOC peer support groups with CWCLN, PSO and the Women’s Mental Health Resource Centre. She is a cocreator of the first training program for Black Peer Facilitators, a collaboration between CWCLN and The Royal Hospital. She facilitates weekly creative writing workshops with WCC, MDO and the Centertown community centre. María Cristina is also a proud auntie of four, and a loving outspoken Cuban with a heart of gold and an intense passion that most find difficult to ignore.

Jannat Thind

Jannat Thind, born in Surrey, BC and raised in Brampton, ON, is a dedicated Sikh-Punjabi Canadian advocate for health, focusing on the unique challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities. Jannat's passion for this cause is deeply personal, stemming from her family's struggles with addiction and her own experiences with unrecognized mental illness. These challenges have driven her family to a deep understanding of the neurobiology and behaviour that underpin mental health and addiction.

Jannat earned her degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Waterloo, specializing in addiction, mental health, and policy. She will intern at the Yale School of Medicine this summer and begin the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto. She has plans to pursue an MD/PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience. Her personal experiences and professional endeavours continue to shape her journey toward creating impactful community-focused solutions in mental health.

Steven Torresan

Steven Torresan is a beacon of resilience and advocacy in the realm of mental health awareness and support. With a rich tapestry of personal experiences woven through recovery and triumph over adversity, Steven stands as a testament to the human spirit's boundless capacity for growth and healing. As a steadfast co-chair of CAMH's Forensic Patient and Family Council, he brings a kaleidoscope of insights to the table, having traversed the labyrinthine corridors of the forensic mental health system firsthand.

Ryan Zietz

Ryan Zeitz is a stand-up comedian and mental health peer support worker. His dual passions for mental health advocacy and comedy have inspired him to fuse the two. This led to the creation of his Stand-Up Comedy for Mental Health course that he teaches through the Collaborative Learning College at CAMH. Ryan is also the creator of Mental HELLth Comedy Night, a mental health-themed comedy fundraiser that has raised over $5,500 for the CAMH Foundation.

Daisy Mucito is a person with lived experience, committed to liberatory mental health and finding healing outside of institutions. She draws from her involvement in higher education and exposure to the mental health industrial complex, cognizant of the upholding of oppressive systems. She seeks to dismantle systems and decolonize mental health, noting the hegemonic western ideology and institutionalized methods are insufficient and often harmful. Her insight to the prevalence of mental health stigma within the Latine community and failure to address the harm of oppressive systems fuel her dedication to transforming how we understand and address mental health. Her participation in LET (s) Leads first Latine cohort, has fostered her interest in the holistic well-being of Latine population. Daisy’s LET(s) lead project is rooted in her lived experience with self-stigma, highlighting topics of identity, disconnection, and the historical trauma of colonization/colonialism. She inspires to raise consciousness, cultivate solidarity, and move towards collective liberation.

Isaira Almonte

As a proud Dominican immigrant and long-time Lynn MA resident, Isaira has experienced first-hand the many challenges and barriers in her Lynn community when accessing quality mental healthcare services in her community. Despite these obstacles, she has been fortunate enough to work on advocating for support while in her role as a Clinical Case Manager for the Department of Mental Health.

Isaira has a deep understanding of the complex health needs of her community and is passionate about conducting a community mental health assessment to explore community strengths and needs regarding accessibility to services and resources in her community. Isaira hopes to the forum for a voice of her Latino Community via this assessment with hopes that gaps and or strengths noted become guides for community program improvements needed/ program development considerations.

Isaira believes that everyone deserves to live a healthy and fulfilling life and that a start to this is when individuals feel heard.

Isaira is thankful for the leadership tools and guidance she has acquired through the Let’s Lead Program. Isaira aspires to complete her project in 2024 summer with continued work in the years to come.

Jessica Perez

Jessica is a mental health and developmental clinician with over 18 years of experience specializing in cases involving families, children, and adults who have suffered extensive trauma and substance abuse. Jessica is deeply committed to social justice, advocating for equitable access to mental health services and addressing systemic barriers that impact Hispanic communities.

As part of her dedication to leadership and advocacy, Jessica is part of the first 2024 Latine cohort of the Latine LET(s) lead program, from which she will graduate in the Fall of 2024. She is a transformational leader whose project is to foster a more informed and compassionate understanding of perinatal mental health, ensuring that expecting and new mothers feel supported and empowered to seek the care they need without fear of judgment or discrimination in her community. Jessica is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health to further enhance her ability to address health disparities and social determinants of health. This advanced education will enable her to develop and implement more effective public health strategies and policies, ensuring a broader impact on mental health care accessibility and quality.

Lily Baldwin

Lily is an approved Clinical Supervisor in the state of WA, a Licensed Mental Health Professional, an AMHCA Diplomate and clinical mental health specialist (child & adolescent specialist), ethnic-minority mental health specialist, certified clinical trauma professional (IATP), certified professional wraparound facilitator (Vroon Vandenberg Group) and certified CBT+ & CETA learning collaborative consultation. Lily has been working as an Infant and Toddler Mental Health consultant for the past 7 years. She has been certified by the state of WA as Trainer of Trainers in the DC: 0-5 diagnostic classification.

Lily is a firm believer that any person can recover from mental health and or emotional difficulties. For this reason, she advocates for integrated and equitable treatment for all. She has implemented training for professionals who treat depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and the most recent training in diagnostic classification for infants and toddlers, and the prevention of postpartum depression. Lily has been a board member of the North Sound Accountability Health Centers since 2022. In January 2024, Lily was awarded the opportunity to participate in the Let’s Lead, Yale University for Recovery and Community Health

Mr.J/Mical Hernandez

Mical or mr. j (they/them/elle) is the Assistant Director and Latine Communities Connector for the Wildflower Alliance’s Wild Ivy Social Justice Network, a grassroots Peer Support, Advocacy, and Training organization with a focus on harm reduction and human rights. They are a Black queer disabled trans non-binary Afro-Indigenous Kiskeyane Dominican. They are passionate about re-indigenization, liberation, social justice advocacy and centering queer, trans, black, brown, and indigenous communities. They currently reside in Western Mass where they also co-facilitate a community theater collective for trans and gender expansive youth and adults as a team member of Translate Gender, as well as songwrite and perform under the name Red Jasper. In their free time they enjoy spending time with their dog Appa and rabbits Ella and Louis, being with friends and community, astrology, hiking, dancing, watching cartoons and scary movies.

They are also a fellow of the 2024 Let's Lead Latine Cohort at Yale University, where they've had the opportunity to learn from and with other Latine folks. Their final project will be a multi-disciplinary creative based community event that centers black, brown, indigenous, queer and trans Latines voices and experiences around mental health, healing, and familismo.

Tishna Lopez

Tishna Lopez is a civic leader in her NYC community, with over 20 years of experience in promoting facilitation across all stages of life. With a focus on agency standards such as NAEYC, DOE, DOHMH, AmeriCorps, DHS, MHA, and now Optum-UHC as a Certified Peer Support Specialist, Tishna operates from a Peer Specialist lens, championing Behavioral Health Care solutions for healthcare equity. Her dedication to advocacy shines through her peer-centric approach, crafting mutual service plans for engaged participants. Tishna is known for her visually appealing strategies that foster wellness routines, embracing community diversity and inclusive solutions. She encourages healing dynamics by embodying guided principles of excellence, cultivated through dedicated efforts in peer-centric values and transformative frameworks. Additionally, Tishna is an active participant in the 1st Latine LET(s) Lead academy facilitated through the Program of Recovery and Community Health at Yale University. In this program, Tishna seizes the opportunity to develop community programs utilizing technological facilitation and hybrid modalities, with a focus on supporting social-emotional learning for youth, disabled individuals, and re-entry level participants in behavioral health, trauma, and justice-impacted individuals.

Yamilet Rodriguez

Yamilet Rodriguez is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience specializing in cases involving substance abuse, trauma, mental health, and criminal justice. With a broad understanding of trauma's impact, she implements swift and effective procedures, ensuring the well-being and rehabilitation of justice-involved individuals. Dedicated to reducing recidivism, she constantly seeks new tools to support individuals in avoiding criminal behavior, particularly advocating for justice-involved women and men with mental illness. Yamilet’s integrity, dependability, and visionary leadership make her an invaluable asset, inspiring positive change and fostering collaborative efforts in implementing therapeutic justice, ultimately enhancing access to justice for all. Additionally, Yamilet will be a Latine LET(s) lead graduate in the 2024 first Latine cohort, further solidifying her commitment to advancing justice within marginalized communities. She is an emerging leader whose project in the Latine LET(s) Lead aims to create healing circles in her community in Puerto Rico, showcasing her dedication to fostering holistic and transformative approaches to community well-being.

Eknoor Kaur Thind

Eknoor Kaur Thind is a fourth-year Bachelor of Health Sciences student at Queen’s University, and a 2024/2025 fellow of the Yale LET(s)Lead Academy. Passionate about early intervention in mental health, she is particularly interested in metabolic psychiatry—especially the gut-microbiota-brain axis, and the epigenetic mechanisms by which adverse childhood experiences (e.g., child sexual abuse) induce neurological changes in brain structure and pathways, shaping development and elevating risk for mental health conditions. Her senior thesis focused on novel neurostimulation techniques, specifically trigeminal nerve stimulation, for treatment-resistant generalized anxiety disorder. Through the LET(s)Lead Academy, Eknoor aims to combine her research interests with a compassionate, evidence-based approach to create sustainable improvements in community mental health care.

Calvin Prowse

Calvin Prowse (they/them) is a peer worker, futurist, educator, cultural worker, and community organizer in disability, Mad, neurodiverse, and queer/trans communities, based in Hamilton, Ontario. Calvin completed their MSW at McMaster University, and their MA in Critical Disability Studies from York University. Calvin previously served on the board of directors of PeerWorks, an organization dedicated to championing the voices of peer support organizations in Ontario. They are also the former team lead of the Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice (YAIJ) Peer Support Training & Employment Program (PeerSTEP). Calvin's leadership project is focused on developing peer-based and peer-led approaches to imagining and building alternative futures.

spencer gabriel mackay

spencer (he/they) is a queer trans non binary autistic disabled multi disciplinary artist born and raised in Tkaronto. Growing up he loved doing art but their main focus was on gymnastics, baseball, volleyball and later diving. After ‘retiring’ from sports spencer got into dance and started to performing in theater as both a dancer and actor.

Through treatment for ptsd, substance use and an eating disorder they rediscovered their love and passion for art making.

Jennifer Drummond

Jennifer Drummond, the founder of Racial Lens, uses a client-centered approach to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). With an educational background in psychotherapy, trauma response, non-formal, and adult education, she has a unique approach to curriculum and facilitation. The Racial Lens approach is to meet clients where they are starting from, without judgment, guilt, or shame. Jennifer, a fellow of the Let(s) Lead program with CAMH and Yale, brings extensive lived and learned experience to her project, “Women, Work, and Racism”. As a Black woman living with anxiety, depression and being neurodivergent, she brings a unique perspective and expertise to this interactive, educational, and supportive group for BIPOC women and femme.

iowyth ulthiin

iowyth hezel ulthiin (they/them) is a PhD researcher, dancer, poet, textile artist, and programmer. Their work traverses perception, sensation, group dynamics, and space-time modelling, engaging principles of horizontality and emergence across disciplines. They hold a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Intermedia and Cyberarts. They are the author of The Witch: A Pedagogy of Immanence and co-author of The Capitol Riots: Digital Media, Disinformation, and Democracy Under Attack, along with two forthcoming titles: Queer Cartography: Mapping Queerrealities and The Political Economies of Alternative Media.

io has collaborated in experimental dance performances with musicians and visual artists in Montreal and Toronto for over two decades. They advocate for the inclusion of mad scholars operating beyond the institution, organizing sensory-friendly community events that treat horizontal communication as essential to both equity and our shared understanding of reality.

Raffela Mancuso

Raffela is a mental health activist, content creator, and entrepreneur based in Edmonton (Treaty 6 Territory). She regularly shares about being neurodivergent, living with mental illness, and body image issues on her social media in order to help others struggle a little less.

Terri Chan

Terri Chan is a pharmacist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health with over 15 years of experience. She currently works as a research pharmacist supporting clinical trials at the hospital and develops educational course content for pharmacists. She has a strong interest in writing, relationship-building, and pharmacy practice. Outside of work, Terri enjoys spending time at local cafes, planning a trip to Japan, and hearing about light bulb moments from the people she loves.

Rose Kapty

Rose is a devoted wife, mom, aunt, cousin, daughter, and lifelong public servant. Now, she is stepping boldly into her purpose as a changemaker.

Raised in the midst of generational challenges, including alcoholism, abuse, and undiagnosed mental illness. Rose has emerged with a deep sense of compassion and resilience. As the daughter of second-generation Ukrainian farm immigrants, with a pilot and aircraft mechanic for a father, she grew up with an airport as her backyard and a sky full of possibilities. Rooted in her Ukrainian heritage, Rose has long been connected to her community. Today, she is committed to giving back to the mental health community through advocacy, storytelling, and service on advisory committees. Her journey of self-discovery and recovery fuels her passion to inspire others.

Through online connections, Rose discovered the LET(s)Lead program a moment she saw as the turning point for her dreams. Once accepted into the cohort, she embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly, recognizing it as the pathway to make a meaningful difference in her community.

Iris Asserlind

Iris is a queer, Toronto-based theatre artist, writer, stage manager, performer and arts educator. They graduated from the University of Windsor’s Drama in Education and Community program, with a minor in Women & Gender Studies. They seek to create deep community and tell stories that amplify voices we are unaccustomed to hearing, especially those of the queer, trans, and mad experience. Iris is the founder and Artistic Director of One Day Theatre Company, as well as a poet who enjoys sharing the world of spoken word with young people. Iris has an undying love of puppets, movies, and coffee, and is an intense cat owner.

Jae Luna Lopez

Jae Luna Lopez is a Toronto-based neurodivergent artist and educator.

Their mixed media art practice reflects their work in recovery and supports their mental health as a way of grounding and expression. Inspired by Surrealism’s automatic drawing, Jae celebrates spontaneity and imperfection. In the face of trauma and loss, she creates playful crayon drawings and collages that evoke feelings of joy and fun.

In the fall and winter Jae Luna runs a program for children called Art Club and highly values artmaking in community to foster play and belonging.

Currently they are fixated on repeatedly drawing cute bears

Bartholemew Hugh Campbell

Bartholemew (Bart) Campbell (he/him); studied HR Management at Toronto Metropolitan University and holds an M.Ed. in Adult Learning from Yorkville University.

Bart was a management professional for over 25 years until he was derailed by mental illness. Upon recovery, he became a trained Peer Support Specialist and before joining CAMH and the Yale Let(s) Lead program 7 months ago, he spent the past 14 years as a wellness educator, utilizing his lived experience and certification as an Advanced W.R.A.P facilitator to inspire people affected by mental illness; break free from self-stigma to enjoy a better quality of life.

Alexander Steingrímsson is a peer supporter and mental health advocate at Hugarafl, a peer-run organization in Reykjavík, Iceland. Drawing from his lived experience, he leads Unghugar, a youth initiative centered on recovery through community and empowerment. He is working to establish Iceland’s first peer-led recovery and reintegration service, challenging the medical model and highlighting the transformative power of community-led approaches.

Project Idea: Peer-Led Youth Group at Hugarafl
A youth-led initiative with 20+ members (ages 18–30) who meet regularly for peer support, advocacy, and creative activities. The group builds community, fosters leadership, and partners with universities and focus groups to strengthen youth voice and impact.

Ásta Kristín Guðrúnardóttir is a peer support worker at the National University Hospital of Iceland, where she supports individuals experiencing psychosis. Active in the Peer Support Society, she draws on her lived experience and background in audio, music, and visual art to promote recovery through creativity and connection.

Project Idea: Redefining Insanity Through Art
A mental health–inspired platform that uses art to celebrate self-expression, build community, and challenge stigma by redefining “insanity” both online and in-person.

Elín Vigdís Guðmundsdóttir is a lawyer and anthropologist with expertise in refugee law and human rights, as well as a yoga and meditation teacher. She co-founded SÁTT, the Icelandic Eating Disorder Association, drawing on both professional and lived experience. Elín is pioneering Iceland’s first holistic eating disorder center, integrating nature therapy, mindfulness, and peer support to create a wellness-focused approach within Iceland’s therapeutic landscapes.

Project Idea: Iceland Wellness Center
A holistic center addressing eating disorders by combining clinical support with nature therapy, mindfulness, and peer-led approaches. The initiative seeks to transform care in Iceland by blending human rights, wellness practices, and community empowerment.

Elín Ýr Kristjánsdóttir is a lawyer and psychedelic enthusiast interested in innovative approaches to mental health and wellbeing. She collaborates with integration specialists to explore supportive tools for people engaging in psychedelic experiences.

Project Idea: Psychedelic Logger
An online platform designed for both facilitators and participants of psychedelic journeys, offering a structured space to document, integrate, and reflect on their experiences.

Esther Ágústsdóttir works as a peer at the University Hospital in Reykjavík, Iceland, and has studied Intentional Peer Support, coaching, and Icelandic and French language, culture, and literature. She has experience in recovery, tourism, and education, and is the owner and CEO of Bókmenntaskólinn (The School of Literature). Believing in the healing power of stories, she is launching a reading circle to enhance wellbeing and connection.

Project Idea: Reading Circle on the Human Condition
A supportive reading circle where participants explore stories about the human condition and mental health challenges. Through reading, writing, and reflection, the group fosters understanding, connection, and improved quality of life.

Guðmundur Ingi Thoroddsson is the founder and chairman of Afstaða , Iceland’s prisoners’ rights association. After experiencing incarceration firsthand, he dedicated his life to reforming the system from within. He regularly visits prisons, supports families, and serves on national committees advocating for humane policies.

Project Idea: International Prisoners’ Advocacy Board (IPAB)
An international network led by people with lived experience of incarceration, working to advance global prison reform through peer support, policy advocacy, and dignity-centered approaches.

Hallgrímur Hrafnsson is a peer worker on a community mental health team at the National Hospital of Iceland with eight years of experience in peer support, including specialized training in Intentional Peer Support (IPS). He serves on the board of Geðhjálp, Iceland’s largest mental health association, and actively contributes through conferences and workshops. Committed to improving mental health services, Hallgrímur believes in co-creation and the transformative power of peer support.

Project Idea: Establish an NGO to Empower the Peer Support Community
A new organization dedicated to strengthening the peer support community, expanding resources, and promoting co-created approaches to mental health recovery.

Ingólfur Snær Víðisson is a father of two and a dedicated social worker supporting people struggling with addiction and risky behaviors in prisons, juvenile homes, and on the streets. Drawing from his own lived experience with similar challenges, he is committed to guiding others toward recovery and stability.

Project Idea: Handan Hindrana (Beyond Obstacles)
A nonprofit organization uniting people with lived experience and professionals to provide resources, support, and guidance for teenagers and young people facing addiction, crime, or other dangerous behaviors.

Kristján Friðjónsson has a diverse background, assisted living for autistic individuals, farm work, fishing, and acting. He now works as a peer educator at the Icelandic Recovery College and as an IPS trainer for Traustur kjarni, drawing deeply on his lived experience.

Project Idea: “Please Allow Me to Get on Your Nerves”
A peer-support initiative addressing stigma in small communities, where fear of labeling often prevents people from seeking help. The project seeks to normalize peer work, break down taboos, and create safe spaces for support and connection.

Malva Gimeno is a mental health peer worker and Spanish teacher at Hlutverkasetur, an activity center in Reykjavík largely run by peers. She is a trained Intentional Peer Support facilitator, a member of the User Ask User project to improve mental health services in Iceland, and part of Traustur Kjarni, a nonprofit peer organization working for social change. Passionate about inclusivity, Malva regularly engages in conferences and advocates for immigrants and people experiencing social isolation.

Project Idea: Transforming Hlutverkasetur
The initiative envisions turning Hlutverkasetur into a peer-led center where people can learn Intentional Peer Support in multiple languages and build meaningful peer connections.

Marvi Ablaza Gil is a board member of the European Network of Filipinos in Diaspora, founder of Happy Pinoys , and a peer counselor with WOMEN Iceland. She supports migrants in adjusting to life in Iceland, where multicultural mental health is still emerging, and believes that finding familiarity in new environments helps migrants thrive and contribute meaningfully to society. A published poet with a love for food, Marvi often gathers with friends around cooking, karaoke, and laughter.

Project Idea: Eldhús Reykjavik
A nurturing kitchen space for migrants to connect, cook, and share cultural traditions—fostering community, belonging, and mental wellbeing

Rósa Steingrímsdóttir experienced years of melancholy and depression before finding healing during a hike with her daughter on Grímsey, Iceland’s northernmost island. That same year, she joined an Intentional Peer Support course, connecting with others who use lived experience to create change. As a survivor of her own struggles, Rósa is committed to building a more compassionate mental health system.

Project Idea: Transform Peer Support in Hospitals
“One small step toward kindness, one giant leap toward betterment.” This project envisions stronger peer support in hospitals, greater respect for lived experience, and a cultural shift toward more humane treatment of patients.

Sigrún Huld is a peer worker and group facilitator from Reykjavík, Iceland, passionate about transforming systems through the power of lived experience. With a background in the arts and mental health advocacy, she integrates creativity, storytelling, and emotional insight to support healing and social change. Her work focuses on recovery, empowerment, and collective reconnection, with a commitment to purpose-driven leadership rooted in empathy.

Project Idea: Hugarafl Podcast – Elevating the Wisdom of People in Recovery
A peer-led, sustainable podcast that reconnects society through storytelling. The project shifts perspectives from viewing people as “struggling individuals” to recognizing them as “keepers of wisdom,” reframing recovery as a source of strength and insight.

Sigrún Sigurðardóttir is a peer teacher at the Icelandic Recovery College, where she has worked since 2017. With a diploma in makeup and special effects, and training as a counselor for substance use challenges, she also brings lived experience of recovery from addiction and mental illness. Sigrún’s diverse background includes roles in theater, elder care, sales, and hospitality. Creative and curious, she enjoys crochet, painting, board games, and history podcasts.

Project Idea: Build a Soteria in Iceland
An initiative to establish a Soteria house in Iceland, providing a non-medical, community-based alternative for people experiencing mental health crises.

Sigurveig Jóhannsdóttir is a 27-year-old mother of two who works in group homes in Iceland, supporting teens through peer connection. Drawing from her own lived experience, she recently founded an organization to help teens and young adults facing substance use challenges by offering individualized guidance and support.

Project Idea: Beyond Barriers
A nonprofit initiative supporting teens and young adults struggling with risky behaviors or drug use, helping them overcome obstacles and build healthier, more hopeful futures.

Sonja Rún Sigríðardóttir is a peer support worker in Akureyri, North Iceland, where she works with a nonprofit in the mental health field. A lifelong advocate shaped by her own lived experience, she joined the Yale leadership program to expand her knowledge, strengthen her role, and support her personal healing journey. Sonja envisions mental health care that is inclusive, recovery-oriented, and grounded in individual stories, and she brings empathy and insight into every space she enters.

Project Idea: Implementing Peer Support in Clinical Settings
A structured program to integrate peer support into existing mental health services, beginning with the psychiatric ward of her local hospital. The project includes training, supervision, and dedicated spaces for meaningful peer connection.