Harbourfront Centre

235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8

1:30 PM – 2:50 PM

Registration

Harbourfront Centre, Main Floor by Elevators (Please look for Signage with Conference Art by Angela Aujla)

3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Studio Theatre

Keynote and Documentary by The UnCoverUp Podcast

Keynote: Regulating Emotions in an Apocalyptic Time  

Professor Nathan Radke 

Dr. Lee Kuhnle 

Dr. Shelly Lesher 

Harbourfront Centre

235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration

Breakfast in the Bays, Main Floor Harbourfront

Snacks and Refreshments will be available near the registration table in betwewn sessions.

A boxed lunch will be provided to all delegates to be enjoyed on the Harbourfront grounds, or in a designated tent in case of poor weather.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

MAIN LOFT

Panel 1A: Health, Resilience, Wellness and Artistic Expression

Moderator: Professor Shelley McCabe

1. Dr. Kait Pinder, PhD
2. Phil Fung, MSc.
3. Arunima A Vasudevan, MA.

This panel will explore the themes of mental health through an analysis of art and architecture. First, Kait Pinder looks at how feelings of intellectual fraudulence often affect women and racialized groups. Pinder analyzes the relationship between fraudulence and authenticity in impostor syndrome, arguing they are mutually dependent, while examining Elaine Hsieh Chou’s novel Disorientation to explore these concepts and their impact on student mental health. Fung will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened mental health and how work-from-home stresses challenge wellness. Building design, including natural elements, can promote wellness by reducing stress and improving cognition and quality of life. Finally, through a study of Arnhild Lauveng’s memoir A Road Back from Schizophrenia, Arunima A V will explore how the experiences of individuals with schizophrenia are varied and unique based on their social, economic, familial, and cultural backgrounds.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

LOFT 1

Panel 1B: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Inclusivity and Student Well-Being

Moderator: Professor Sara Hassan

1. Radhika Bali, MA
2. Dr. Genevieve Amaral and Dr. Cherie Werhun

This panel will explore student mental health from two distinct parts of the globe. First, an interdisciplinary study of the mental health of disabled students at Panjab University in Chandigarh, India, provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing the mental health and well-being of disabled students, revealing the resilience strategies employed by them, including the role of social surroundings and personal coping mechanisms. The second argues that the interdisciplinary, applied liberal arts offer a unique basis for responding to the challenge of worsening mental health conditions among students. Specifically, the presentation will look at how Sheridan College in Ontario has recently developed two linked programs that seek to achieve this goal.

10:40 AM - 12:10 PM

MAIN LOFT

Panel 2A: Racialization, Multiculturalism, and Mental Health

Moderator: Professor Beth Washburn

1. Annwesha Dasgupta, MSc. (co-researcher Dr. Monnica T Williams)
2. Libera Amadiwakama Mochihashi, MA
3. Dr. Priya Mani

These three panelists focus on racism and ableism and intersections with mental health. The first presentation investigates the link between racism and chronic pain among different racial groups in the United States. The study finds significant correlations between experiences of race-based discrimination and increased pain severity and interference, especially among Hispanic Americans. The findings emphasize the need for healthcare providers to consider racial discrimination in chronic pain assessment and treatment. The second presentation explores body image development among mixed-race adolescents in Japan, influenced by societal views of mixed-race individuals. Using Naomi Osaka as a case study and DuBois' Double Consciousness framework, the study highlights the impact of cultural negotiation on body image and calls for culturally sensitive care to support these youth. The final presentation examines a qualitative case study of thirty professional counselors in Central and Western Canada who used hope-based interventions to address systemic oppression and empower clients. It highlights the importance of cultural humility, curiosity, learning from failure, and resilience, offering a framework to guide novice counselors in turbulent times

10:40 AM - 12:10 PM

LOFT 1

 Panel 2B: Perceptions, Paradigm Shifts, and the Happiness Gap

Moderator: Dr. Alexander Shvarts

1. Dr. Kelvin Lau
2. Dr. Lesley Thornton-Cronin
3. Dr. Paul Corey

These three panelists look at well-being through a social-justice or social-conscious lense. First, Lau applies the Matalili-Aga Gahua (Matalili Wellbeing Framework) to examine Niue community experiences during COVID-19 in New Zealand. Findings emphasize culturally tailored, community-led solutions for holistic care, demonstrating effective community-academic partnerships for health initiatives. Thornton-Cronin argues that a decolonized teaching and learning of the humanities requires not only changes to the curation of course materials, but also a pedagogical paradigm shift towards more empathetic, learner-centred teaching practices. This paper explores how Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Doing, and Being and other culturally-responsive teaching practices can be used to support learner mental health. Finally, Corey examines studies showing that conservatives have been happier than liberals over the past half-century. Conservatives' stronger ties to family, community, and religion offer stability, while progressives' focus on systemic injustices and climate change contributes to anxiety. This paper argues the left should introspect and foster types of life-affirmation even in the shadow of present dangers and injustices.

1:15 PM - 2:45 PM

MAIN LOFT

Panel 3A: A New Era of Student Support: The World’s First Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students

Moderator: Dr. Alexander Shvarts

1. Sarah Ferguson, MSW Program Manager
2. Leah State, MSW, RSW Director
3. Bindia Darshan, MSc.

In an era of rapid change and global interconnectedness, the mental health of post-secondary students is vital for a resilient future. Data shows a 29% increase in student anxiety from 2018 to 2022, with one in three students rating their mental health as “poor” in 2023. The National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the CSA Group, provides guidelines for institutions to support student mental health. These guidelines promote a culture of wellness and resilience and help create safe, supportive learning environments. Since its 2020 release, many Canadian institutions have adopted the Standard to improve policies, programs, and services. This session, led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Humber College, will discuss the importance of mental health literacy in higher education and share insights from Humber's Well-Being Strategy, inspiring stakeholders to prioritize mental health in fostering resilient student communities.

1:15 PM - 2:45 PM

LOFT 1

Panel 3B: Personal Narratives of Belonging and Well-Being

Moderator: Professor Arundati Dandapani

1. Shiva Mazrouei, MA
2. Walter Rafael Villanueva, MA
3. Jose Miguel Esteban

This panel will explore immigration and mental health. First, Mazrouei will examine how 1.5-generation Iranian immigrants navigate a complex path between "here" and "there," seeking belonging while bridging home and host countries. Preliminary findings highlight how migration, political events, and COVID-19 impact their sense of belonging and well-being. This research could inform policymakers and community organizations, supporting immigrant youth's holistic well-being and fostering inclusive societies. Additionally, this panel will investigate a Mad Pilipinx method to engage with racialized mental health experiences through creative interventions. The panel aims to advance Mad Pilipinx studies, exploring creativity's role in critical disability and Mad studies. Villanueva's autoethnography and Esteban's choreographic narrative highlight personal and cultural narratives of madness and rest, contributing to discourses beyond biomedical understandings.

2:55 PM – 4:25 PM

LOFT 1

Panel 4: Unveiling the Power of Mattering and Adaptability for Post-Secondary Students

Moderator: Dr. Paul Corey

1. Dr. Anja Vorster
2. Dr. Kathryn Mettler
3. Dr. Masood Zangeneh and Professor Audrene Kerr-Brown

Three distinct presentations address various aspects of mental health and well-being in educational and professional contexts. The first study, conducted at Auckland University of Technology, investigated the relationships between students' sense of mattering and their mental well-being, motivation, and academic performance during transitions like moving from online to in-person learning. Surveying 150 undergraduate students, the study found that a strong sense of mattering positively impacted mental well-being and academic performance by reducing anxiety and failure avoidance. Notably, Māori students reported higher levels of mattering and well-being compared to other groups. The second presentation focuses on vicarious trauma (VT) and compassion fatigue (CF) among helping professionals exacerbated by the pandemic. Drawing on extensive research and professional experience, it debunks myths about VT and CF, offering alternative strategies beyond conventional self-care practices to better equip aspiring professionals. The third assesses the mental health and adaptability of students during abrupt transitions to online learning. It examines associations among mattering, depression, anxiety, burnout, and positive functioning indicators like hope and adaptability, highlighting the importance of addressing student well-being.