Canada’s Associate Minister of Health attends Inlight research symposium

On February 27, at U of T’s Faculty Club, student researchers, faculty members and staff from the U of T community gathered to seek ways to mobilize the knowledge being generated by their research, to create real and lasting change for student mental health and well-being at U of T.

This was the second Annual Research Symposium to be hosted by Inlight, the tri-campus Student Mental Health Research Initiative at U of T, which emphasises student-engagement at the core of its research mandate.

Bilal Qureshi, an international student at U of T Scarborough and one of the co-chairs of the Inlight Research Symposium reiterated the importance of making academia a more inclusive space. Diversity he said, is at the core of a person’s sense of wellbeing, and Canada is at the forefront of championing mental health.

“Your work as researchers and policy makers around these efforts, have a real and lasting impact on students like me,” said Qureshi.

Before the symposium got under way, the audience heard from the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. Minister Saks shared how much of her work is driven by a desire to ensure that Canadians have access to high quality and culturally appropriate mental health services and supports.

“Young people are grappling with realities that many of us did not experience in our youth, from disruptive technology to climate change, and the rising cost of living,” said Saks. “We have heard from young people that they want tools and resources that go beyond coping and building resilience. Today you [as researchers] are exploring these questions and discussing solutions about what mental health can and should be for young people. With listening comes action and with listening, comes change.”

Building on the momentum of previous years, the 2025 symposium focused on bridging the gaps that exist in mental health and wellness for students in post-secondary education and barriers to their inclusion and engagement in research.

“What makes today’s symposium special is our amplification of student engagement and student voices,” said Kristin Cleverley, Director and Chair of Inlight in her opening remarks. “Each of the sessions today are shaped by our student advisory committee – motivated leaders who are driving important conversations on student mental health research.”

Cleverley, who is also an associate professor at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and the Rossy Chair in Campus Mental Health at U of T, also announced the expansion of Inlight’s Research Fellowship program. The 2024-25 cohort includes 15 graduate student researchers, who will participate in a tailored training program in support of knowledge mobilization.

(Minister Ya’ara Saks, second left, with Inlight research team and director Kristin Cleverley, right. Photo: Dewey Chang)