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I am recovering from a mental health diagnosis. I would love to help other people battle and overcome mental illness by promoting positive change. By facilitating for Kaleidoscope, I promote such change through caring and empathetic communication. Kaleidoscope provides much needed support, hope, and community to anyone who needs it. I want to help and support this organization as much as possible to foster inclusion and open communication channels for people struggling with mental health issues. Together, we can fight the stigma of mental illness and create emotional growth and change.
Hi, I’m a PhD Candidate at UBC. I am excited to be back in university, I did my masters degree in media arts 10 years ago. My research is related to mental health and education. I met with a lot of challenges and interruptions to my education. Therefore, I am super happy to be a participant and facilitator with Kaleidoscope, nothing like this existed where I did my last two degrees! I have met many inspiring people through Kaleidoscope. Outside and alongside my studies I enjoy painting, looking at microorganisms under my microscope and resolving challenges. I also knit and crochet. I love hiking the forest and beaches around UBC and other spots in the province. My favourite kicking it back activities are reading sci-fi and fantasy and watching British detective shows. I love my espresso coffee (decaf) every morning and I am an enthusiastic cook preferring to cook a meal rather than leftovers or eating out.
Hi! I’m Tracy. I began facilitating with Kaleidoscope in 2011. Mental health challenges sprung up for me while I was in university, which completely interrupted the trajectory my life was on. In order to manage my mental health, I had to take a reduced course load, and from start to finish, my undergrad took 13 years to complete; however, this reduced course load has allowed me to explore other areas that are of interest to me, including getting involved in peer support work and research. I graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2019. Peer support has been my rock with my own mental health, and has been a fantastic jump off for a career in social work. With a firm foot still in peer support, I am now studying for my Master’s of Social Work through Dalhousie distance education, and loving the combination of social work and peer support.
Hi! My name is Shiny (she/her/hers). I am currently studying Medicine at UBC. I have been involved in mental health awareness and advocacy initiatives since undergrad. More recently, through my clinical experiences in Medicine, I have come to appreciate the intersection of my patients’ mental, physical and emotional health. I believe in a holistic approach to care that prioritizes people’s psychosocial concerns, and not just their physical illness. I joined Kaleidoscope last year because I was drawn to the amazing people involved and the tremendous work they do to support the mental health of students. As a Group Facilitator, I continue to grow by sharing and learning from the lived experiences of my peers. In my spare time, I love hiking, listening to Jazz, and spending time with my dog, Ella. I am thankful for the opportunity Kaleidoscope has given me to meet amazing people and build connections. I hope to continue supporting others on their journey towards a happier and healthier life.
Hello! My name is Winnie and I am a UBC student in the PharmD Program. I have been involved in mental health awareness and advocacy since high school. I joined the Kaleidoscope External Committee last year and I am now a facilitator as well. My journey with mental health continues to be long, winding, and ever-changing. My passion is helping people, especially those in minority groups, live happier and healthier lives through healthcare and community building. In my spare time, I enjoy singing, dancing, painting, laughing and sleeping. I have learned so much from all the wonderful people here at Kaleidoscope! I hope to continue supporting my peers and making connections in the community.
Hi there! I graduated from UBC, after a grueling 8 years… I did it 🙂 I studied human biology and psychology; right now, I’m a Peer Support Worker with local health authorities and starting a naturopathic medicine program. It’s been a long road, with poor mental health getting in the way of my academic career, relationships, and life in general. I’ve been with Kaleidoscope for 9 years now, and I love working with so many amazing people. Kaleidoscope helped me significantly through the beginning stages of my recovery, being a place where I could relate to people with similar experiences and be true to myself. I am very happy that, now further along my recovery, I can give back and hopefully provide the same space for others that it has provided for me. As a facilitator, I continue to learn and grow every week with my peers. Outside of school and work, you can find me going for outdoor adventures, eating yummy food, being weird, attempting to write, watching Grey’s Anatomy, chilling with some close friends, drinking tea and playing with my cat. 🙂
Hi! My name is Rose. My pronouns are she/her. I am someone with a passion for helping others and spreading positivity. I have a mental health diagnosis and I’m learning new things as I go along. Mental health awareness is really important to me. Kaleidoscope has helped me with my journey and giving others a safe space to express themselves. I’m thrilled to be a facilitator and have conversations regarding mental health. I like coffee and watching movies.
Scott
Hi everyone!
My name is Scott, and I first attended Kaleidoscope a few years ago. I stayed because of the gently supportive style of the meetings. Eventually, I decided to become a group facilitator. I endeavour to contribute towards the atmosphere of mutual collaboration and kindness I have always found at Kaleidoscope.
In my daily life, I am constantly misplacing my non-existent pocket watch, falling down rabbit holes, losing my train of thought, and being late for almost everything. I’m still working on that.
I absolutely love skiing, Bard on the Beach, Whitecaps games, and daydreaming. I greatly enjoy meditation, and aspire one day to become a disembodied voice.
I am a passionate believer in the highly beneficial role of peer support in mental health care.
I’m thrilled to be a Kaleidoscope facilitator, and if you give me half a chance, I’ll try my best to convince you to attend our Book Club as well!
Former Facilitators
Hi folks! I’m Fouziah, pronounced “fo-zee-ah”, and I am a UBC graduate of Psychology and Health and Society. I am currently in the occupational therapy program right here at UBC and in my final year. I started attending kaleidescope and then facilitating sessions in 2015. Mental health for me, has been fluid and at times a bit of a roller coaster; It has involved a plethora of experiences in grief, loss and trauma. Throughout my mental health journey, I’ve personally experienced Kaleidoscope as a strong source of support and community for myself and for others. I’m passionate about supporting and fostering connections as well as supporting meaningful living!
Hi! I’m Daphnée and a third-year UBC student hoping to major in English and Creative Writing. I initially moved to Vancouver two years ago, but it is only in the past year or so that I’ve been introduced to the amazing peer support groups on our campus, including Kaleidoscope. After years of struggling with my mental health and three psychiatric hospitalizations in the past year, I’m finally learning how to be well again. I’ve returned to school and got a job as a peer writing consultant. When I’m not engaging with my studies, you can usually find me hanging out with my friends, reading Harry Potter, journaling or completing jigsaw puzzles. I also volunteer once a week at Writer’s Exchange, helping inner-city kids with reading and writing. I also particularly enjoy sharing my story to connect with others, and I do so by publishing vulnerable pieces with The Mighty and ThoughtCatalog. I believe that writing has been a therapeutic process for me, and has helped me heal. 🙂
Hi everyone! I’m Lauren, a UBC graduate with a degree in Mathematics and Psychology. I am passionate about helping people live well, find meaning, and connect with others. For 3 years, I volunteered at the UBC Wellness Centre where I helped students with their mental health through peer-to-peer support. I’ve seen firsthand how sharing our stories can help us feel more connected, which led to me joining Kaleidoscope as a group facilitator. I hope to foster a safe space where students feel understood and empowered. In my free time, I enjoy doing yoga, listening to podcasts, and watching improv comedy.
Hi! My pronouns are she/her. I am a psychology student at Douglas College, and I became a peer-facilitator with Kaleidoscope in 2020. I am enthusiastic about mental health advocacy, particularly for those with ADHD (I’m an ADHDer myself). I believe that shared stories from those with lived experience are invaluable to inform mental health practices and I’m learning to use creative non-fiction to do that. I’m an avid rugby player and member of the rugby community. I backyard bird watch (I can see a Rufus hummingbird outside my window now!) and I’m a major CBC radio nerd.
Hi! I’m Drew and I’m enrolling at UBC for third time this calendar year. I’m an English Lit major in my fourth year eager to complete my degree. In my time away from UBC I completed my Education Assistant certificate at Capilano University and have just been hired by school district 43 as an on call EA. Outside of my Lit degree I’m interested in learning to glass blow, the French language, and eating healthy and exercise. I’m excited to be involved in Kaleidoscope once again and want to do my part to de-stigmatize mental health conditions as well as empower those who have lived experience. Looking forward to meeting you!
Hello, my name is Robyn Putnam. I graduated from UBC in May 2013. At the moment I’m pursuing a Masters in Counselling Psychology. For the first three years of my degree I struggled with depression and anxiety and I didn’t know where to go to receive help. As a result, I ended up having to take a break from my studies. When I returned to school I found Kaleidoscope and I’ve been involved ever since. Since then I have had many ups and downs (I was diagnosed with Bipolar II in March 2013) but Kaleidoscope has always been a safe place where I can go and connect with other people struggling with similar challenges. I continue to attend Kaleidoscope in order to receive support for my own health, but I think it’s equally as important to give back and support others. We love to have new faces!