Ask Women Anything - Is Mental Health Mainstream Yet?
Ask Women Anything returns for 2018!
Join us at 7pm on January 25th for our next Ask Women Anything panel discussion on the current situation of mental health and attitudes towards it. In light of this month's focus on mental health, come and begin the discussion early by asking our panelists anything in an open environment. This is sure to be another exciting discussion that you do not want to miss!
**NOTE: Due to the popularity of previous events and the strict capacity at Bar Robo, this event will require pre-booked tickets on EventBrite (free of charge!) in order to be guaranteed entry. Those without a ticket will be let in on a first come first served basis after ticket holders. Click this link to reserve tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ask-women-anything-is-mental-health-mainstream-yet-tickets-41889022193
Take a look at our panelists below:
FAE JOHNSTONE: Fae Johnstone (she/they) is transfemine, queer and nonbinary person and an experienced activist, community organizer and facilitator. She is a fourth-year Bachelor of Social Work student at Carleton University, a member of the Strategic Advisory Council of the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, and a Core Team Member of Trans Health Information Ottawa. This past year, Fae has been a key organizer of Slutwalk Ottawa, Trans Day of Remembrance and the Rally on Parliament Hill for Trans Rights Bill (C16). Fae is a sought-after public speaker and facilitator, having participated in numerous panels focused on mental health, trans inclusion and anti-oppression over the past year, including traveling to Dublin, Ireland to deliver a keynote address on LGBTQ+ youth mental health at the International Association for Youth Mental Health Conference in September. Outside of work, school and volunteering, Fae can be found tweeting, binge-watching netflix & probably drinking too much coffee. Fae can be found on Twitter at @FaeJohnstone
JENN JEFFERYS: Jennifer Jefferys works for the Government of Canada in digital communications and moonlights as an artist, writer and social media strategist. You may recognize her byline from the Ottawa Citizen, AM640, iPolitics, Power and Influence magazine, Apartment 613 or Chatelaine. After a brief stint as a federal political staffer and a not-so-brief stint as a “Beer Store Girl” on Somerset, Jenn found herself working in media relations and communications at the Assembly of First Nations and the Native Women’s Association of Canada. Jenn has battled chronic anxiety, depression and some symptoms of borderline personality disorder her entire life. She is a firm believer in the need for broad institutional change in Canada to secure a safer and more supportive culture for those living with invisible disabilities. A small town Ontario native, Jenn is a cat mom to Simone de Beauvoir, digs live music and feminist political theory and is deeply uncomfortable to be turning 30 this year. Follow Jenn's miscellaneous adventures on Twitter @jennjefferys.
KAYLA SPAG: Kayla Spagnoli is an Ottawa born ex-funeral director turned public relations and social media specialist, who currently works in Indigenous anti-human trafficking efforts. She is also co-founder of the local grassroots organization "Feminist Twins", which is in it's 4th year. She was a co-organizer of SlutWalk Ottawa and spoke at the 2017 Women's March. In her spare time, she likes to dabble in podcasting and stand up comedy. She is an advocate for mental health, and lives with borderline personality disorder and depression. When Kayla grows up, she hopes to have a cat farm. Add her Twitter at @kaylaspag!
CATHERINE LEWIS: Catherine Lewis works in mental health communications at The Royal, a teaching and research hospital in Ottawa. Her connection to mental health is especially strong because she lives with mental illness. Catherine spends every day thinking about mental health. Whether she's telling the stories of people living with mental illness, or those of people working in mental health care and research, an immense part of her job is listening to and learning from people involved in this area. She is very interested in improving the ways we talk (or don't talk) about mental illness and wellness. When Catherine isn’t working or spending time with her cute little family, she embroiders and kickboxes.