Introducing our speakers for our Panel on Mental Health and Wellness, taking place this Friday at 5PM!

Samoon Tasmim is a registered psychotherapist with a focus on the mental health of immigrants and newcomers to Canada. He works closely with leading immigrant-serving organizations including Muslim Family Services of Ottawa, Ottawa Muslim Community Services and REPFO (Ottawa’s Black Francophone Serving Organization). He also works as a Mental Health Training Facilitator with Jewish Family Services. Samoon is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselling and Psychotherapy focusing on Psychotherapy for Immigrant communities.

Dr. Jessica Ward-King has a PhD in experimental psychology from the University of London, England, and a bachelor’s degree from McGill University with a BSc (hons) in psychology. She has worked in the federal government since 2010 as part of the Free Agent program, currently on assignment at the Youth Secretariat at the department of Canadian Heritage. Jessica also has Bipolar II Disorder, a chronic mental illness that she has lived with since she was a teenager. Known as the StigmaCrusher, Jessica works tirelessly to crush the stigma of mental health both in-person and now on YouTube.

Marko Punzalan is a registered nurse working in the mental health unit at Queensway-Carleton Hospital. He is also a clinical instructor teaching and guiding nursing students at the University of Ottawa throughout their clinical training in mental health. He is very passionate about raising awareness of mental health, connecting with students and sharing about his experiences working in the field!