Our Team
Our Team
DR. SHALINI LAL
Lab Director
PhD, MSc, BSc (OT Reg. QC)
Dr. Shalini Lal is the Canada Research Chair in Innovations for Youth Mental Health, a tenured, Associate Professor at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Medicine’s School of Rehabilitation, a Principal Researcher at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), an Associate Researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, and the Director of the Youth Mental Health and Technology (YMHTech) Lab. Her main research interest is in improving the mental health of youth and their access to integrated health services across the continuum of care.
Dr. Lal received her undergraduate (BSc.O.T.) and graduate (M.Sc., Psychiatry) degrees from McGill University, her doctoral (Ph.D., Rehabilitation Sciences) degree from the University of British Columbia, and her postdoctoral training (Youth Mental Health Services and Clinical Health Informatics) from McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies, Dr. Lal worked for 10 years in the U.S. and in Canada as a frontline mental health service provider in various roles including occupational therapist, clinical case manager, and clinical program leader.
Dr. Lal’s research is supported through the Canada Research Chairs program, a title bestowed by the Government of Canada. She has also been awarded competitive/peer-reviewed research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and through several other industry and philanthropic organizations based in Canada and the U.S.
For more information on Dr. Lal, see the following links:
LAB MEMBERS
KIRA RUDAKOVA
Research Assistant
B.A. in Psychology
Kira is a McGill University graduate, with a B.A. in psychology. She is interested in child psychology and how technology can be used to make mental health resources more accessible to the marginalized youth populations. As a full-time research assistant, Kira is involved in various tasks, including the HoryzonsCa project.
NAGI ABOUZEID
Research Assistant
B.A. in Psychology
Nagi is a recent graduate from McGill University where he completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology, a minor in behavioral science, and a minor in gender, sexuality, feminist, and social justice studies. He is interested in exploring the utility of an intersectional approach in understanding the experience of youth mental health and the treatment of psychiatric conditions. During his time in the YMHTech lab, Nagi will be working on the HoryzonsCA project as a research assistant and clinical moderator.
ORLANDO LOPEZ
Volunteer
MEng. Systems Security Information
Orlando is MEng. Systems Security Information at Concordia, before that he obtained a Master's degree in IT Management at the University of Barcelona and a Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering in Peru. As an IT Manager, Orlando is an enthusiast of applied technology for the psychological and mental development of youth and children.
HAJIN LEE
Alumni Affiliate Member
Ph.D. in Cultural and Social Psychology
Hajin received her PhD degree in Cultural and Social Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her research focused on youth daily distress experiences across countries and she is interested in understanding the development and implementation of youth and immigrants’ mental health interventions. Hajin is working full time as a postdoctoral fellow on several projects, including the YEMHR and HoryzonsCA studies, and a scoping review of online referrals to mental health services.
TANIA SABATINO
Planning, Programming and Research Officer
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy
Tania is a graduate of the Master of Occupational Therapy program, and is currently a master's candidate in Rehabilitation sciences at the University of Montreal. She is interested in youth mental health, and wants to better understand the influence that technology has on the development of new services for this population, and to develop interventions to improve students’ quality of life. Tania is working as a research assistant on several projects, including the PRISM-AOM and the Scoping Review Toolkit.
SAMUEL ST-AMOUR
Alumni Affiliate Member
M.Sc. in Kinesiology and Ph.D. (c) in Health and Society
Samuel has a multidisciplinary academic background in psychology and kinesiology. He is currently in the last year of the Interdisciplinary Health and Society doctorate program. Over the course of his formation, he mostly studied the effect of physical activity on individuals with psychotic and personality disorders. Samuel’s work in the lab includes the integration of physical activity promotion in the HoryzonsCA project.
ANTOINE CARDIN
Volunteer
B.A. in Psychology
Antoine is a third-year undergraduate Psychology student at the Concordia University. He is interested in the role technology can play in providing mental health care to youth by making services more accessible to them. He is currently involved in the HoryzonsCa project as well as other research projects within the lab.
HAJAR SEDFI
Research Assistant (Part-Time)
M.Sc. in Occupational Therapy
Hajar is a graduate of the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Montreal. Hajar is interested in understanding how technology can be used in improving students' mental health.
STEPHANIE TREMBLAY
Research assistant and PhD student
MScAOT, PhD candidate in rehabilitation science
Stephanie is an occupational therapist currently completing her PhD at McGill University, supervised by Dr. Dana Anaby and co-supervised by Dr. Shalini Lal. She is interested in improving access to mental health services for youth with physical disabilities. As a part-time research assistant, she is involved in the HoryzonsCa project.
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 graduate of the University of Montreal, where she recently completed a Microprogram in Mental Health: Mentorship for Peer Support Workers at the Faculty of Medicine. She 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. Novembre is a part-time research assistant/peer support worker, and works primarily as a moderator on the HoryzonsCa project
OTHER LAB MEMBERS
Sunil Sujanani, M.Sc., Planning, Programming and Research Officer
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Stephanie Tremblay, Doctoral Student in Rehabilitation Sciences (co-supervised with Dana Anaby, Ph.D.)
Tania Sabatino, Masters Student in Rehabilitation Sciences
YOUTH CONSULTANTS
Nicolas Lefrançois
LAB ALUMNI
Samuel St-Amour (Research Assistant)
Hajin Lee (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2019-2023)
Kawtar Zitour (Summer Research Intern, 2021-2022)
Lily Simon (Research Intern, 2021-2023)
Rahul Bangre (Summer Research Intern, 2021)
Sam Suys (Summer Research Intern, 2021)
Rossana Peredo (Post-doc Research Fellow, 2021-2022)
Ryan Tobin (Research Assistant, 2021-2022)
Amané Halicki-Asakawa (Research Assistant, 2019-2022)
Danielle Starcevic (Volunteer, 2019-2021)
Olivia Raschkowan (Volunteer, 2019-2020)
Lyna Siafa (Research Intern, 2019-2020)
Mylène Charette (Research Assistant, 2018-2020)
Jessica Spagnolo (Volunteer Intern, 2016-2021)
Alexis Pearson (Project Coordinator, 2016-2019)
Geraldine Etienne (Research Assistant - Douglas, 2018/19)
Valérie Saad (Research Assistant/Clinician Moderator - Douglas, 2018/19)
Solène Doutrelant (Student Research Intern, Summer 2018)
Lyna Siafa (Student Research Intern, Summer 2019)
Jessica Whitehead (Research Intern, 2017/18)
Charles-Albert Morin (Research Assistant/Peer Moderator - Douglas, 2018/19)
Lysanne Rivard (Programming, Planning and Research Officer, 2016/17)
Tasfia Rahman (Student Research Intern, 2017)
Jimmy Tan (Youth Consultant and Summer Research Intern, 2016/17)
Imaine Sahed (Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2016/17)
Zoya Dare (Student Research Intern, 2016/17)
Mazin Osman (Consultant, 2016/17)
Winnie Daniel (Research Intern, Spring 2016)
Florence Bourbeau (Student Research Intern, Summer 2016)
Julia Goldman-Hasbun (Research Intern, 2016)
Nicole Ledwos (Summer Student Volunteer, 2015)
Joanie Theriault (Student Research Intern, Summer 2015)
Valentin Nguyen (Student Research Intern, Summer 2015)
Past Youth Consultants
Brittany Dalfen
Emily Saunders
Shasini Gamage
Andrew Whittle
PAST STUDENTS
Shilguia Petel (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2022/23)
Jessica Bento (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2022/23)
Stephanie Gadbois (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2022/23)
Hajar Sedfi (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2022/23)
Jenny Meng (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2022/23)
Sarra Jazi (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2022/23)
Vida Sieu (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2020/21)
Sarah Elias (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2020/21)
Amélie Leclerc (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2019/20)
Charlotte Lemyre (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2019/20)
Gabrielle Colgan (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2019/20)
David Jette-Robert (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2019/20)
Laurence Blais (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2019/20)
Gabrielle Dubuc (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2018/19)
Jacob Rivest (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2018/19)
Kelly Gougeon (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2018/19)
Liliana Agudelo-Munoz (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2018/19)
Joanie Thériault (Doctoral Student in Rehabilitation Sciences, co-supervised with Catherine Briand, Ph.D, 2016/18)
Julie-Anne Bourgault-Côté (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2017/18)
Vickie Chaput Taillefer (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2017/18)
Ningru Chen (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2017/18)
Uyen Minh Phuong Le (Capstone Project, Professional Master’s in O.T., 2017/18)
Florence Bourbeau (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2016/17)
Melina Mauger-Lavigne (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2016/17)
Andrea Zevnik (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2016/17)
Alexandra Baron (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2015/16)
Amelie Fauvelle (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2015/16)
Anna Czesak (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2015/16)
Joanie Theriault (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2014/15)
Winnie Daniel (Capstone Project, Professional Master's in O.T., 2014/15)
Youth Mental Health and Technology Lab
Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)
Pavillion S 850, Rue St-Denis, Bureau S03.328
Montréal (Québec) H2X 0A9
Email: ymhtechlab@gmail.com