MHAC EXECUTIVES

Ameera Ladak – Co-President

Hey Thunderbirds! I’m Ameera, and I’m so happy to be a Co-President for the Mental Health Awareness Club. I’m currently a third year Sauder student, specializing in Transportation and Logistics. I am also the Chair of the Sauder Squad, and the Vice President of Logistics for POITS, Sauder’s bi-weekly beer gardens. I recently became active in the mental health awareness community after being diagnosed with depression in the summer of 2013. As a result, mental health, and the destigmatization of mental illness is incredibly important to me. In addition to my co-presidency, I also run a mental illness blog, ameeraladak.wordpress.com, which seeks to educate people about the struggles that go with mental illness. I look forward to helping the UBC community continue the fight to eradicate stigma on campus!

Amber Mann – Co-President

Hi! I’m a 3rd year biology student. When I say I’m a science student I really mean I’m obsessed with it. You will find me in the lab every day in stylish pink gloves. I love martial arts, and it’s a big part of my life. I spend my spare time baking or volunteering. I’m passionate about mental health awareness because not only have I suffered from mental illness but I’ve seen the judgement. I hope being involved with MHAC will help me learn more about different mental health issues and also to help the club reach people who not only have mental illnesses but people who don’t. I believe that is the way to reduce stigma.

Penny Zhang – VP Finance

Year 4 in biopsychology

Interest: theatre

Want to see the growth of MHAC and mental health awareness on campus

 Jessica Jun – VP External

Hi UBC! : ) My name is Jessica and I’m in my 3rd year in UBC Science.  My hometown is LA, but I have been a Vancouverite almost all my life.  I enjoy spending most of my spare time binge-watching tv shows (parks and rec, brooklyn99, community are some of my favourites), trying to take pictures of my 2 adopted cats Teddy and Bear, watching movies or reading curled up in a blanket burrito, and eating anything sweet (esp. chocolate).  This is my third year with UBC MHAC and I am thrilled to be working with our amazing External team, a new addition to the exec team, this year!  My goal is to connect with as many members of the UBC community as possible through blog posts, social media, and, of course, events on campus.  If you would like to get involved with MHAC or have any ideas/ questions/ concerns, don’t hesitate to ask (ubcmhac@gmail.com).  I look forward to meeting you all!

Jennifer Pooni – Communications Coordinator

Hello friends! My name is Jennifer and I am entering my 4th year Integrated Sciences student, integrating Biopsychology and Physiology. I am a bit of a TV fanatic – some of my favourite shows have been or currently are: Breaking Bad, Suits, The Big Bang Theory, White Collar, Community, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Brooklyn 99, and The Walking Dead (yes, I realize that is a lot). I also tend to overuse exclamation marks in my sentences because I feel like periods aren’t exciting enough. I decided to become more involved with MHAC because I feel that it is really important to educate people on the importance of mental health because everyone has it and has to take care of it, just like our physical health. I feel that education is the most effective way to help eliminate the stigma towards mental illness and as Communications Coordinator, I hope to bring this education to you through our social media platforms. If you want to stay up-to-date with MHAC, like us on Facebook (UBC Mental Health Awareness Club), throw us a tweet, or follow us on Instagram (@ubcmhac)!

Jane Wang – VP Internal

Hi everybody! My name is Jane and I’m a second year Biology major. In my spare time (when I have some) you might find me tickling my fluffy dog, satisfying my movie cravings, wailing over Game of Thrones, reading anything that is fiction, and being a supporter of introverts. With my time here at MHAC, I’d like to help educate others about mental health, providing opportunities to discuss it in a constructive positive way, as well as offering information and resources for the school and wider community. Mental health is relevant to all of us, sometimes in more ways than one; it’s not just about mental illnesses (though that certainly is an important aspect). I’m your liaison between you, our lovely members, and the rest of the MHAC team. Feel free to ask any questions or drop a comment/suggestion!

 Megan Johnstone – Co-VP Events

Megan is a third year kinesiology student who is super excited to be a part of the MHAC team! As co VP events she is looking forward to helping the club reach a larger range of students. Megan loves cooking, coffee, and buying dresses she always forgets to wear. She’s also an active member of the UBC sororities community and her favourite way to de-stress is by playing with her dog Hero.

Saba Fatemi – Co-VP Events

Hi there! My name is Saba and I’m in second year biopsych (which will soon be called Behavioural Neuroscience, hopefully) My passions include: the brain, animals, dancing (with a Persian twist), drawing amoung other types of art, and practicing korean with every korean speaker that I can find. I am also deeply passionate about eliminating the stigma associated with mental illnesses, particularily after visiting Iran a few years back and realizing how prevalent this stigma is in my own country!
P.S. I will almost certainly become your friend if you love Lord of the Rings.

Danielle Sanders – Project Assistant

Hi Everyone! I’m a 3rd year Dietetics student, with an M.Sc in Human Nutrition, and I am MHAC/MHNA project assistant for this year. I am a liaison between the MHAC and the corresponding Mental Health Needs Assessment. I will also be working closely with the MHAC to help grow the club and help coordinate our ever expanding events. Although I am passionate about food and how it relates to health, including mental health, I am equally as passionate about increasing awareness about mental health and minimizing the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. This passion stems from a personal battle with depression, throughout which I had to overcome my own stigma to the illness. I am very excited to work with the MHAC and help the club continue the conversation about societal perspectives of mental illness and what we can do as a community to clarify misconceptions.

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