The New National Standard & Self-Assessment Tool Webinar

Sandra Koppert, Director, Programs and Priorities at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, has extensive experience in strategic planning, outreach and promotion, and stakeholder relations within the national non-profit health sector. For more than 5 years at MHCC, Sandra has developed strategies and led projects to promote awareness and facilitate action for psychological health and safety in workplaces across Canada. This includes leading the national By Health for Health Collaborative of health leaders to advance workplace mental health in healthcare settings and now overseeing MHCC’s leadership in the development and promotion of a National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety for Post-Secondary Students. Sandra’s career started in strategic research consulting before shifting her focus to the health sector and mental health.

Amy Fogarty, Manager, Programs and Priorities at the Mental Health Commission of Canada, oversees several key initiatives including the National Standard for Canada on Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students, as well as work related to child and youth, justice and chronic diseases. Amy’s passion for workplace wellness and mental health led her to the Commission in 2016, where she spent several years promoting training programs including The Working Mind, The Inquiring Mind and Mental Health First Aid.

Dr. Andrew Szeto is currently Director, Mental Health Strategy responsible for guiding the implementation of the 28 recommendations within the University of Calgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary and a Principal Investigator with Opening Minds at the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Over the past eight years, Dr. Szeto has focused on the development and evaluation of workplace mental illness stigma reduction and mental health promotion programs, such as The Working Mind and The Working Mind for First Responders. Over the past several years, he has worked to develop and pilot The Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary, a program tailored for post-secondary students. As well, he has developed a junior high/high school version of the program called The Inquiring Mind Youth. Dr. Szeto also conducts basic research that examines the stigma of mental illness through a social psychological lens, including research on labelling, attitudes, and new interventions to reduce stigma. More recently, his research has focused on post-secondary mental health, and is also a part of the Technical Committee that developed the Canadian Standards Association and Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Mental Health for Post-secondary Students (i.e., The National Standard for Post-Secondary Student Mental Health and Wellbeing). Dr. Szeto continues to publish academic articles on various topics related to mental health and wellbeing and the stigma of mental illness.

Ted Power holds a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and has a great interest in mental health and wellness. He has worked as a guidance counsellor and coordinator for Accessibility Services for over 10 years and has extensive experience in counselling with a post-secondary population. He has particular interest in how mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety impact the post-secondary population. He believes that by continually striving towards better communication, both within ourselves and with others, a better life and society can be achieved.