Support Your Mental Health: Resources for Entrepreneurs
Join us at the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership (SICIEEIL) in collaboration with the Library and Health & Wellness Centre to learn more about the mental health resources available to you through the UTSC community!
MEET OUR PANELISTS
Tanisha Sylvester (Founder, EVOLVERE Mental Health)
With a background in Health Sciences and Public Health, Tanisha Sylvester applied her learned and qualitatively gathered knowledge to develop EVOLVERE Mental Health Inc., which is working to evolve the way that students understand and support their mental health by curating a collective space where students can build community and be connected to resources that fit their needs. EVOLVERE is currently developing a digital mental health platform that focuses on the student perspective and experience, and is conducting original research to develop equitable and student-informed tools.
Chijindu Ukagwu (Founder of mhapy)
Chijindu Ukagwu is an MD/MSc student at the University of Toronto. He also works as a mental health nurse among people who have come in conflict with the law dealing specifically with incarcerated people and those who have been found not criminally responsible for their actions. He is the founder of www.mhapy.com – a chatbot that performs mental health assessments and connects the user with support. Chijindu is passionate about the intersections of technology and healthcare.
Moderator: Elizabeth O'Brien (Librarian, Entrepreneurship & Innovation)
Elizabeth O’Brien (she/her) has over 25 years of experience as an informational professional serving within non-profit and academic environments. Her interests include mentoring entrepreneurs, facilitating community partnerships and advocating for accessible mental health supports. Elizabeth loves to learn and recently completed a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. She also holds graduate degrees in Business Administration, Information Studies and History.
Shari Russell Opara (Director, Health & Wellness at the University of Toronto Scarborough)
Shari A. Russell Opara (she/her) holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in psychology and health studies, and a Master of Education in leadership, higher and adult education, from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. She also holds a post-graduate certification in Human Resources Management and is a Certified Art Therapist.
Shari brings a unique and diverse skill set to human services leadership in the post-secondary environment including experiences in healthcare and public service.
Shari lives on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation and Williams Treaties signatories of the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations (Pickering) and enjoys spending time with her partner Ikem, their twin daughters, and when possible, being in the ocean, preferably off the shores of her ancestors' most recent birthplace, Jamaica, or other sunny and beach-lined destinations.
Shari is the Director, Health & Wellness at the University of Toronto Scarborough, her Alma Mater. She supports a team who provide health promotion, mental health counselling, heath system navigation, and primary care services to students. The goals and focus of her work are to build health literacy and provide health care services, that support students throughout their academic studies and beyond.