Queen's Team
Executive Team
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Heather Malcolm (she/her)PresidentWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
I advocate for mental health for many reasons. I have always wanted to be a true and transparent advocate for mental health, but I do not think I would be the best advocate if I did not talk about things that made me feel like the odd one out or made me feel uncomfortable. I believe sharing stories can lead to a better sense of belonging, not only for yourself but for the people who hear them. Being an advocate means sharing your own struggles with mental health and creating a safe space for others to do the same. Advocacy has changed my life, it has made me work every day to foster a space for others and myself to feel more comfortable talking about mental health. I truly believe that once mental health is a conversation in our everyday lives, we can end the stigma. Learn to listen and let people know that it is ok to talk about their mental health. Mental illness is tough, but we can be tougher. |
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Ghazal Khademi (she/her)PresidentWhat does mental health mean to you?
To me, mental health is so much more than one singular and unwavering definition. After recognizing my own struggles with mental health in high school, as well as seeing the ways poor mental health was also impacting my peers and loved ones, I began working towards learning more and implementing advocacy in my life. Everyone has their own personal mental health journey, with different life experiences that are carried along the way - through these journeys, I've understood how important it is to learn about myself and how to prioritize my own mental health, given that it's such a huge part of our wellbeing. Particularly, I've recognized how my own unique life experiences and upbringing contribute to my mental health and the struggles I've subsequently experienced. Learning about the importance of intersectionality was truly a turning point in understanding myself. Being a part of SAS has allowed me to continue the conversations surrounding mental health and illness, and advocate for others. My passion for mental health and involvement with such a wonderful team of leaders has helped me find comfort in my struggles and recognize that I'm not alone. My passion for mental health has included working towards researching intersectionality and mental illnesses - particularly within immigrant families - to a deeper extent. This has included analyzing the ways I can implement advocacy in my everyday life, and support myself and others in developing healthy self-care strategies and coping mechanisms to carry into the future. |
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Haley Sturrock (she/her)PresidentWhat are you most excited for this year on Step Above Stigma?
Step Above Stigma has been an incredibly impactful part of my life the last few years and I cannot wait to lead this team in the upcoming school year. I am excited to see how the team can work together towards a common goal, eliminating the stigma, a goal each member holds a true passion for. Watching each member work towards this in their own unique way is incredible and something I am beyond grateful for. One of the most rewarding aspects of working with SAS is seeing the impact we can make in our school community. With the ongoing pandemic, accessibility to mental health care is more important than ever, and something SAS recognizes and strives to achieve. I am especially excited to see SAS expanding into other schools and communities across the country with new students taking on our mission and implementing it in their own unique way. Each team and school interact with SAS in a new way applying the SAS values how they see fit. Within the Queens chapter, we have an exciting roster of events and initiatives planned for our return to a hybrid school year that we are so excited to share with you! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a leader in the SAS community and cannot wait to see where this year will take us. |
Eunice Pang (she/her)Business Development DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
I joined Step Above Stigma because of the struggles I faced with my own mental health that were exacerbated in my first year at Queen’s. University life is a difficult transition—not only is the schoolwork and structure a huge transition in itself, but you’re also in a new place living away from everything that is familiar to you, your family and loved ones are all the way back home, and you’re entrusted with the responsibility to be independent and look out for yourself all at once. Organizations on campus such as Step Above Stigma addresses the difficulties of university and life in general and promotes the notion that mental health has a place in every conversation. For many, including myself, being able to finally open up to loved ones about our struggles with my mental health is not an easy feat, but I can confidently say that the work and goals that SAS does and strives for played a huge role in helping me overcome that fear. As an upper year student and top exec member of the team, I want to be able to carry forward and uphold SAS’s missions and values to ensure that everyone feels comfortable reaching out for help! |
Jake Eisen (he/him)Human Resources DirectorWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
I advocate for mental health and wellness because of how essential it is to destigmatize the mental health landscape within various communities, both in-person and online. Mental health can affect everybody differently, and being aware of the intersections that exist between one's mental health and one's social position is what drives me to learn more about how to be a better advocate and how to educate myself further on these intersections. Moreover, as our world becomes more digitized, it's important to be able to advocate for mental health online where anonymity and fine-tuned social media can mask signs of mental distress. Thus, I advocate for mental health and wellness because you may never know who is struggling or who may need someone to listen. I grew up in a very homogenous environment where mental health wasn't talked about, and it made me very anxious and unsure of where to go seek help once I entered university because conversations on mental wellbeing were often framed pejoratively. It's important to be knowledgeable about all these intersections so that we can provide equitable and accessible mental health support for our communities, no matter how big or how small. If we box in our advocacy to be framed around our own personal values, it minimizes the effects of mental health on other intersections while simultaneously closing in our own worldview of other cultures and of people too - which is why I advocate for mental health advocacy with an intersectional and intercultural approach in mind. |
Ana Djurkovic (she/her)Summit ChairWhat are you most excited for this year on Step Above Stigma?
I don’t even know where to begin on what excites me most for this upcoming year on SAS! I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization and I am enthusiastic to be a part of SAS as a Top Exec and be able to represent SAS in this position. I am thrilled to be working with such a large group of individuals who are passionate about mental health advocacy and dedicated to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health! I am also excited to explore new ways in which we will be able to break down the stigma and improve mental health awareness and resources on campus. Being a part of the team who created the first ever summit was an amazing experience and I feel as though with a new team and fresh set of eyes, we can only make it better! My goal for the summit this year is to widen the platform and audience and to strive to create an impactful event, alongside my wonderful team! Even though I am the most excited about a hopefully in person summit, I also cannot wait to see how many other amazing initiatives SAS organizes. In the past year, SAS has presented so many events and done so much in facilitating conversations about mental health and I am so excited to continue to break down these barriers! |
Jacob Shaddock (he/him)Human Resources DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
Mental health has gone from a taboo subject to a serious conversation through the hard work of organizations like SAS, however a lot of work still needs to be done to reduce stigma and promote self-care. Through SAS I want to stimulate a positive dialog within our communities on how we can better take care of ourselves and uplift our family and friends - because at the end of the day all we have is each other. |
Ampai Thammachack (she/her)FounderWhat are you most excited for this year on Step Above Stigma?
I am so excited to expand our chapters program and start creating plans for a Step Above Stigma headquarters in the near future! Most of all I am excited to work with our brilliant and extremely thoughtful and talented new team. |
Jae Makitalo (she/her)Website DeveloperWhat are you most excited for this year on Step Above Stigma?
I'm so excited to see how this years team continues to advocate for mental health! I believe we had one of the greatest years on SAS last year, despite the pandemic. I can not wait to see how the 2021-2022 Presidents take this team to new heights! |
Alexx Gibeau (she/her)Events DirectorWhat are you most excited for this year on Step Above Stigma?
I am most excited to start planning SUPER fun events for students & having the opportunity to be apart of a club that advocates for more access to mental health resources on university campuses in Ontario. |
Monique Botros (she/her)Outreach DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
Good mental health, to me, means being able to overcome and persevere through the challenges of change, catastrophe, and daily hassles. |
Jillian Wood (she/her)Chapters DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
In my first two years at Queen’s I heard nothing but amazing things about SAS. I’ve only been apart of this organization for a few months and already I’m kicking myself for not joining earlier! This is a group of incredibly bright and kind people making a difference and I’m so lucky to be apart of it. |
Ivy Yang (she/her)Intersectionality DirectorWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
There are many preconceived ideas of what constitutes mental health when the spectrum is much more diverse. I advocate for mental health and wellness to dismantle stigmatized barriers and bring attention to intersectional factors that have the potential to dictate trajectories in life. Mental health is complex, sensitive, and subjective; I am passionate in ensuring that everyone has a voice and is able to candidly express how they're feeling in a comfortable judgement-free zone. |
Melissa Lo (she/her)Events DirectorWhat are you most excited for this year on Step Above Stigma?
I am super excited to collaborate with my teammates to plan for events that focus on mental health. We have many ideas in the works to create fun and engaging, yet informative events to help spread the message that mental health should always come first. I hope to be able to reach out to many students on Queen's campus and help get them involved and feel empowered to foster their own mental health. Can't wait to host all these events and collaborate with other teams and organizations who share our vision! |
Kerry Roe (she/her)Intersectionality DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
To me, mental health is an all-encompassing area of personal wellness that is not only influenced by our social relationships, physical health, spirituality, and emotions, but reflects back in these areas as well. Although mental health is often not prioritized, it is an incredibly important aspect in everyone’s lives. Albeit, mental health is still experienced differently by everyone, and it is crucial to consider how the intersections of one’s identity influence their experiences and mental health. |
Simran Dhaliwal (she/her)Outreach DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
I believe that mental health refers to being happy and feeling good about yourself. It involves taking into account the emotional, psychological and social aspects of health. It means realizing your potential and doing your best. Mental health means removing yourself from toxic situations and focusing on your growth. It means feeling good, engaging in self-care, taking care of one’s mind and not just focusing on one’s physical health. Everyone experiences stressors that impact mental health at least once in their lifetime. These stressors can create a struggle to maintain happiness and develop resilience. It is heartening to see that the stigma around mental health is gradually disintegrating, however, the fight for the same needs to continue. |
Tessa Gizzarelli (she/her)Intersectionality DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
I perceive mental health as something that clouds one’s judgement and hinders the ability to recognize negative, manipulated thoughts. Despite the negative connotations associated with mental health issues, I believe it is something that sparks personal growth and allows individuals to learn more about themselves. I would not be where I am today without enduring the challenges I faced, and I can now identify when I need to take a step back to collect my thoughts and reflect on what I am feeling. I have come to accept that mental health is an ongoing journey, but it is one that has made me resilient. I am beyond grateful for the support that allowed me to change my way of thinking and become an advocate for individuals who need someone in their corner. There is strength in struggle and I am proud of the challenges I overcame that opened my eyes to the importance of mental health advocacy while empowering others throughout their journey. |
Jesse Kluck (she/her)E-Commerce DirectorWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
Mental health and wellness impacts individuals everyday. It is often misunderstood and advocacy is a great strategy that can bring awareness to the stigma that is associated with mental health. By speaking out and sharing experiences there is the potential for a shift of society’s perspectives of mental health. I think it is so important to advocate because although perception of mental health has improved there is still stigma surrounding mental illness. Advocacy can drive change to reduce the harmful obstacle that negative stigmas cause. Most of the negativity comes from individuals that aren’t educated on the subject. I am committed to spreading awareness and educating others on the importance of mental health and wellness. |
Jade Courchesne (she/her)Photography DirectorWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
For years I placed less value on my mental health because of a surrounding environment that saw it as an afterthought, rather than as a priority. I’ve learned to understand how crucial it is to care for ourselves and to hold my mental health to a greater importance. Being an advocate means going out of my way to actively listen to others, to acknowledge that their experiences are just as valid as mine. It also means listening to myself in the same way, to respect my body and mind so that they’re able to help me survive and enjoy everyday living. |
Angela Shih (she/her)Artistic DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
In my first year, I had a difficult time transitioning to university due to homesickness and being far away from home by myself. During this time, I struggled with being mentally and physically well and I didn’t know how best to cope. I believe that without such strong advocacy for mental health by club initiatives such as Step Above Stigma, I wouldn't have known to reach out for help from family and close friends, or from counselling services on campus. I hope that through SAS, I can help spread awareness and support others through their mental health journey. |
Riley Chang (she/her)Social Media DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
There are so many reasons why I joined SAS! Firstly, it is so so amazing to be part of such a close knit community of dedicated mental health advocates! Secondly, I believe mental health is something that people, especially university students, tend to hide and ignore. I joined SAS because I want to help others see the importance of mental health and work towards breaking down the stigma that surrounds it! Lastly, I wanted to be able to directly help people who are struggling with mental health, either with fundraisers or events! |
Sarah McCleary (she/her)Banking DirectorWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
Total health is the combination of physical and mental health. However, as everything is controlled with the mind, mental health is the foundation to overall health. Therefore, I advocate for mental health because of its importance and I advocate for those who are unable to do so for themselves. Mental health should no longer be an elephant in the room! |
Maaike de Lint (she/her)Social Media DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
There should be no shame in not being ok! Therapy is good! It’s really easy to internalize your struggles and not talk about it, once I started talking about mental health with the people around me it made me realize just how many of us are struggling. This year has taken its toll on everyone in some ways, and it is the perfect opportunity to open this conversation of metal wellbeing. Mental health means to be empowered and willing to make positive change, admitting when we need support and supporting each other. |
Cayleigh Pratt (she/her)Chapters DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
I joined Step Above Stigma to become part of a network of amazing colleagues who truly care about mental health. As someone who has struggled with mental health, I aspire to make a positive difference in the lives of others who are dealing with challenges of their own. With the help of my Co-Director, I hope to introduce SAS to other communities. Together, I believe that we can change the conversation around mental health! |
Liam Plante (he/him)
Retail DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
To me, mental health is something I find difficult to define because it involves so much. Mental health is something that impacts how someone thinks, acts, and feels at any given moment in life and is a part of everybody’s life; however, it may present itself in many different ways. Mental health is something that is very personal to me given that I have struggled with it for many years. Attempting to deal with my mental health struggles was the most challenging thing I have ever faced, and I strongly believe that mental health is something that everyone should be very accepting and supportive of. I hope that one day we will be able to end the stigma surrounding mental health in order for everyone to be comfortable reaching out and receiving they help they may need. |
Laura Pickering (she/her)Accounting DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
Mental health impacts all aspects of life and is just as important as physical health yet isn’t always treated this way. Taking care of my own mental health after years of pushing it to the side has turned my life around. Healing from my mental illnesses has been a long and ongoing battle that I continue to fight every day. I have come to realize that with a strong support system of friends, family, therapists, and psychiatrists it is entirely possible to heal and develop into an even stronger and more passionate person. Mental health means taking care of yourself and others, listening to what your mind is telling you and asking for help when you need it. I want people to know that their feelings are valid and their mental health does not add to or detract from their value. There is always someone that cares about you and no matter what your brain is telling you, you are NEVER alone. |
Véronqiue Knapp (she/her)Events DirectorWhat does mental health mean to you?
Mental health is often overlooked or ignored due to a lack of understanding and fear of talking about it. To me, managing my mental health is a part of my daily routine. Some days are better than others; however, I have learnt and practiced several coping skills that have helped me optimize my day. Mental health is part of my life and many others. We must learn to acknowledge it and integrate mental wellness into our society in a normalized manner. Mental health affects me personally, but it does for everyone because everyone must manage their mental wellbeing. No matter how people choose to approach it, mental health impacts us all. |
Maddie Carew (she/her)Budget DirectorWhy did you join Step Above Stigma?
I joined the Step Above Stigma family because I am passionate about mental health education and advocacy. In my personal life, I strive to advocate for and support the mental health of myself, my family, my friends, and my community. I believe that in working with this organization, as a collective, we will be able to advocate for those who feel they don’t have a voice. We can create a space where people feel safe and comfortable talking about mental health. We can educate our communities and emphasize that mental health is a human characteristic, something everyone has and needs to take care of. I joined SAS because I want to help our community Step Above the Stigma. |
Daniel Shuchat (he/him)Volunteer CoordinatorWhat does mental health mean to you?
To me, mental health is inseparable from health as a whole. We can be in perfect shape physically, but if we are not well mentally, it will be insignificant; it will still be hard to get out of bed in the morning, succeed in work and academics, or even make connections socially. Being mentally healthy means making time to fulfil your own needs, whether that looks like working out, spending time with friends, or even doing nothing without feeling guilty about it. In the end, it is these things that make our lives satisfying and meaningful, not the pressure we put on ourselves to perform. |
Mariam Farooq (she/her)Volunteer CoordinatorWhy do you advocate for mental health and wellness?
The chances of us being born are about 1 in 400 trillion, thus our existence today is a true miracle and accomplishment. Yet still, so many people do not realize their worth in our world. This may be because our society often emphasizes a 'neck down' approach to health. Consequently, mental health's implications on a being's physical health and ability to self-actualize is often ignored. I continue to advocate for mental health and wellness with Step Above Stigma because I hope to create positive butterfly effects that can fight against this reality. |
