Graduate Student Mental Health
In recent years there has been a growing acknowledgement and understanding of the fundamental role mental health plays in fostering academic success and in shaping student experience throughout graduate education. SGS is committed to integrating considerations of mental health into all aspects of our work and into graduate education more generally.
Graduate Student Mental Health Working Group
In the Spring of 2020, the SGS Mental Health Working Group was formed to complement the work of the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health in recognition of the importance of considering the specific, and sometimes unique needs of graduate students.
The SGS Mental Health Working Group developed recommendations with consideration of the diverse graduate student population and the unique nature of graduate education. The recommendations were grounded in the understanding that the graduate community can:
- Do more to proactively acknowledge, address, and respond to mental health challenges;•better understand the range of needs and identify gaps;
- Improve mental health awareness by promote existing resources and supports;
- Design student-focused tools and approaches that are appropriate, inclusive and responsive.
SGS Mental Health Advisory Committee (MHAC)
In order to ensure the timely implementation of the Working Group’s recommendations and ongoing accountability in this area, SGS is establishing a new SGS Mental Health Advisory Committee (MHAC). The remit of the Advisory Committee will be to provide advice and guidance on the implementation of the SGS Mental Health Working Group Recommendations.
MHAC Membership
Master’s Students
Amy Chen – Department of Medical Biophysics
Riley Garno – Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Katie Rose – Department of Psychology
Tara Snyder – Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education
Praveenah Sivabalan – Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Frank Telfer – Department of Medical Biophysics
Doctoral Students
Teddy Cheung – Department of Psychology
Lexi Ewing – Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development
Amin Kamaleddin Ezabadi – Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Karthik Ganesan – Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Alexandra Gustafson – Department of Philosophy
Bilal Khan – Institute of Health, Policy, Management and Evaluation
Miranda Loutet – Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Safa Majeed – Department of Medical Biophysics
Reeman Marzouqah – Rehabilitation Sciences Institute
Jaykumar Patel – Department of Medical Biophysics
Mateja Perovic – Department of Psychology
Natalie Sisson – Department of Psychology
Faculty
Vina Goghari, Graduate Chair, Professor, Department of Psychological Clinical Science
Alison Smith, Chair, Professor, Department of History
Charmaine Williams, Vice-Dean, Students, School of Graduate Studies
Staff
Cindy Cao, International Recruitment and Transition Advisor, Faculty of Medicine
Shelley Eisner, Campus Graduate Administrator, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean, UTSC
Sandra Hohener, Accessibility Advisor, Accessibility Services, Student Life
Josie Lalonde, Director, Student Academic Services, School of Graduate Studies
Related Documents & Resources
- SGS Mental Health Advisory Committee (MHAC) Terms of Reference (November 2020)
- Dean’s Response to the Mental Health Working Group’s Final Report (October 2020)
- Mental Health Working Group Final Report (June 2020)
- Student Mental Health Resource
- Track the status and implementation of the recommendations arising from the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health
- Administrative Response to the Final Report of the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health (January 2020)
- Final Report of the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health (December 2019)