What position are you running for, and what are the responsibilities of this position?
I’m running for Mental Wellness Commissioner! The position is centred around advocating for better mental health services, sharing information about resources, and trying to destigmatize struggles with mental health.
Can you summarize the key points of your platform?
My platform is centred around three key ideas. First off, I want to focus on making students feel more comfortable openly discussing mental health issues that are often stigmatized. I intend to address specific mental health concerns, both in a new website and in events that focus on strategies for dealing with some of these problems. Secondly, I plan to gather feedback from students about their experiences accessing resources, and use that information to compile an accessible, easy-to-read resource guide. Lastly, I will reach out to form connections with other mental health student groups on campus so we can push for larger changes [within] the administration. To read about my full platform, take a look at my page online: https://facebook.com/RachelforMentalWellness
Why do you want to run for this position, and what makes you best suited to fill this position?
I find most people have one issue they’re really passionate about, and mental health has always been that one for me. I’ve watched too many people struggle to navigate the system or feel too ashamed to reach out in the first place. I want to be in a position where I can begin enacting change, and I believe I have the experience and the knowledge to do that. I’ve sat on the Mental Wellness Commission since it began two years ago, and that has given me a clear picture of what has tried and failed before, and what our next steps should be. From a year of working in the Registrar’s Office, I know a lot about the kinds of departments and resources available to students, and what situations they are best used in. I’ve also done other advocacy work like giving talks about mental health at high schools as a speaker for Jack.org, and even writing about mental health issues here at The Strand.
What goals do you hope to accomplish if you are elected to this position?
My main goal is to make people more comfortable and knowledgeable addressing mental health. So many people struggle, and the stigma and shame around reaching out is not only toxic but dangerous. By using stigmatized language openly and providing education opportunities, I aim to create a campus environment where we aren’t afraid to admit when we’re struggling and ask for the help we need.
Launching the resource guide is another huge goal for me. In the past, I’ve only seen guides that compile very basic lists of resources and their contact information, and those can sometimes
seem more confusing or daunting. I believe that by using student feedback to give more holistic descriptions of each resource, we’ll take a huge step towards making these resources more approachable and less confusing to understand.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Mental health can be a difficult topic to discuss, but one that we need to bring to the foreground. The Mental Wellness Commission needs to be a place where we start those conversations. I love drop-in colouring sessions as anyone else, but what I want to see more of is actual change.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Voting is from March 14 to March 17 at voting.utoronto.ca
