TANIA SABATINO
Planning, Programming and Research Officer
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy

Tania is working as a research professional on several projects, including PRISM and the Scoping Review Toolkit, and also helps with coordination activities. She is a graduate of the Master of Occupational Therapy program and of the Master of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Université de Montréal. Tania is interested in the mental health of young people and would like to better understand the influence of technology on the development of new services for this population. She would also like to contribute to the development of interventions to improve students’ quality of life.

JOANE ADECLAS
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D in social and cultural psychology

Joane is currently a full-time postdoctoral fellow in the lab, where she mainly contributes to the YEMHR and PRISM projects. She earned a PhD in Social and Cultural Psychology from Korea University in South Korea. Her research explored cultural variations in the notion of “meaning in life” and their impact on well-being. She is more broadly interested in creating personalized interventions using digital tools to promote and preserve mental health.

NAGI ABOUZEID
Master’s Student and Research Assistant
B.A. in Psychology

Nagi is an MSc student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Shalini Lal. He is involved a part-time research assistant and a clinical moderator in the HoryzonsCa project. Nagi also works part-time as a Human Relations Agent at the West Island Crisis Center and is a member of the Youth Council at the Mental Health Commission of Canada. His thesis focuses on the role of demographic factors on the acceptability and use of digital mental health innovations.

KIRA RUDAKOVA
Master’s Student and Research Assistant
B.A. in Psychology

Kira is an MSc student in Rehabilitation Sciences at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Shalini Lal. She is involved in different projects in the lab, including HoryzonsCa and YEMHR. Kira previously received a B.A. in psychology from McGill University. She is interested in child psychology and how technology can be used to make mental health resources more accessible to marginalized youth populations. Kira’s Master’s thesis is focussed on international student mental health.

AYDA KHALILI
Research Intern
B.A Psychology

Ayda is currently involved in a Master's project on mental health needs and concerns of international students as well as other projects within the lab. She is a third-year undergraduate student at McGill University, where she is completing her degree with a major in Psychology, a minor in Behavioural Science, and a minor in Social Studies of Medicine. Ayda is interested in the role technology can play in providing mental health care to youth by making services more accessible to them. She aims to better understand the influence that technology has on the development of new services for this population and to develop interventions that improve students’ quality of life.

ANTOINE CARDIN
Research Assistant
B.A. in Psychology

Antoine is currently involved in PRISM as well as other research projects within the lab. He is a Concordia University graduate with a B.A. in psychology. Starting in the fall of 2024, he will be pursuing a Master’s in public policy and public administration (MPPPA) at Concordia University. Antoine is interested in the role technology can play in providing mental health care to youth by making services more accessible to them.

STEPHANIE TREMBLAY
Research Assistant
MScAOT, Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences

As a part-time research assistant, Stephanie is involved in the HoryzonsCa project. She is an occupational therapist having recently completed her Ph.D. at McGill University, under the supervision of Dr. Dana Anaby and co-supervised by Dr. Shalini Lal. Stephanie is interested in improving access to mental health services for youth with physical disabilities

GAYELLE KARAM AND NADA OULD TAHAR
Students
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy

For their Capstone project, Gayelle and Nada aim to explore the perceptions of young adults receiving services for first-episode psychosis (FEP) regarding the community skills they consider essential to be functional in the transition to adult life. They are both master's students in the occupational therapy program at the Université de Montréal. Gayelle is interested in mental health and how to improve the psychological functioning and well-being of the elderly. Nada is interested in the mental health of young adults, particularly in psychiatry. She is also interested in the mental health of people wishing to return to work. 

IZABELA ZDROJKOWSKA AND YVERLYNE GARRAUD
Students
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy

For their Capstone project, Izabela and Yverlyne are interested in PRISM, a project based on an online platform that provides a self-referral pathway to mental health services for youth and their families. Izabela is an international student currently pursuing her master’s degree in occupational therapy at the Université de Montréal. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Belgium at the College of Occupational Therapy in Brussels. Her primary interest lies in exploring and integrating new technologies to support adult populations in mental health care. Yverlyne, also a master’s student in occupational therapy at the Université de Montréal, is involved in the PRISM project to better understand the real obstacles in mental health practices for youth. Her focus is on the mental well-being of young adults, with the goal of helping them face the challenges of this life stage, challenges that are sometimes overlooked by society.

ORLANDO LOPEZ
Volunteer
MEng. Systems Security Information

Orlando obtained an MEng. Systems Security Information at Concordia, while he was working part-time as an IT manager at the lab. He also has a Master's degree in IT management from the University of Barcelona and a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering in Peru. As an enthusiast of applied technology for the psychological and mental development of youth and children, Orlando is currently a volunteer member of the lab.

NOVEMBRE MERCIER
Research Assistant & Peer Support Moderator
Graduate of the University of Montreal’s Microprogram in Mental Health: Mentorship for Peer Support Workers

Novembre is a part-time research assistant/peer support worker and works primarily as a moderator on the HoryzonsCa project. She is a graduate of the University of Montreal, where she completed a Microprogram in Mental Health: Mentorship for Peer Support Workers at the Faculty of Medicine. Novembre is passionate about healthy lifestyles, and how they can promote recovery in mental health. She is particularly interested in the influence of social ties and the community and wants to develop new knowledge on the use of technology in the development of services for her peers.

ROSE GOSSELIN AND ALEXANDRA STREDIE
Students
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy

For their Capstone project, Rose and Alexandra aim to explore the needs of 1st-year occupational therapy and physiotherapy students, in terms of mental health promotion and prevention interventions. They are both master's students in the occupational therapy program at the Université de Montréal. Rose has interests in mental health, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Alexandra has a wide range of interests, and her favorite clientele is pediatrics (children and adolescents). She is also interested in integrating technology into care to achieve treatment goals and support young people and their families outside of sessions.

HAJIN LEE
Alumni Affiliate Member
Ph.D. in Cultural and Social Psychology

Hajin was a full-time postdoctoral fellow in the lab from 2019-2023 and is currently continuing her collaboration with the lab as an affiliated alumni member. She worked on several projects, including the YEMHR, HoryzonsCa, and PRISM studies, as well as a scoping review of online referrals to mental health services. Hajin received her Ph.D. degree in Cultural and Social Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her research focused on youth daily distress experiences across countries. Hajin is interested in understanding the development and implementation of youth and immigrants’ mental health interventions.

ÉMILIE MARTEL AND ALYSSIA BERNIER
Students
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy

For their Capstone project, Émilie and Alyssia are interested in Horyzons Canada, an online platform that provides access to various support services and helps people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) return to work and school. They are both master's students in the occupational therapy program at the Université de Montréal. Émilie is interested in the benefits of technology for implementing innovative solutions and increasing the accessibility of mental health services. Alyssia is interested in innovations that promote social participation and offer a variety of integration opportunities for people living with mental health problems.

MARIANE PROULX AND MELISSA LAFERRIERE
Students
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy

For their Capstone project, Mélissa and Mariane are interested in PRISM, an online self-referral platform for youth aged 12 to 25, designed to facilitate access to mental health services in Quebec. Mélissa completed her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at the Université de Montréal and is currently pursuing her master’s in the same program. Passionate about ensuring a prosperous future for children and adolescents, Mélissa values technological advancements, believing that technology is the key to improving mental health services across the province and quickly addressing the needs of young people. Mariane, also a master’s student in occupational therapy at the Université de Montréal, completed a summer research internship in the laboratory and continues her involvement through this integration project on PRISM. She is particularly interested in improving access to mental health care for marginalized youth populations. Mariane seeks to understand how technology can influence both the accessibility and delivery of care for young people, as well as its impact on the clinical practice of mental health professionals.

SAMUEL ST-AMOUR
Alumni Affiliate Member
M.Sc. in Kinesiology and Ph.D. (c) in Health and Society

During his time as a research assistant, Samuel was responsible for the integration of physical activity promotion in the HoryzonsCa project. He is currently continuing his collaboration with the lab as an affiliate alumni member. Samuel has a multidisciplinary academic background in psychology and kinesiology and recently graduated from the Interdisciplinary Health and Society doctorate program. Over the course of his training, he was mostly interested in the effects of physical activity on individuals with a mental health disorder, such as psychotic or personality disorders.