Sandy Rao
M.A.P.S. Lab

Conference presenters shared with the Center on KTDRR these biographical statements. The bios represent their choices about how to describe their expertise.

Sandy Rao (she/her), a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary and a recipient of the Killam and Eyes High Doctoral Scholarships, holds a substantial record in the field of mental health and addictions (MHA). Formerly the director of MHA at Ontario Health and the lead for the Ontario Centre of Excellence for MHA, Dr. Rao coordinated the COVID 19 MHA response for the central region. She founded Sandy Rao Therapy and the M.A.P.S. Lab, both dedicated to improving mental health accessibility and policy solutions. Her academic work, particularly the HEARTS Study, focuses on identifying and addressing barriers to mental health care for young adults. This research is notable for its application of patient-oriented methodologies and its engagement with the lived experiences of research participants. Through this work, Dr. Rao seeks to dismantle structural obstacles within health care systems.

Additionally, Dr. Rao served as the editor-in-chief of Storytellers magazine, a publication that amplifies narratives related to mental health, illness, and disability, thereby promoting a broader understanding of these issues. This role supports her commitment to social movement scholarship, incorporating diverse ways of knowing and perspectives into mental health discourse and policy making. Dr. Rao has extensive demonstrated experience in mental health leadership, research, and advocacy, and her doctoral studies are part of her broader effort to effect change in mental health practices and policies, with a focus on justice and equity for minoritized communities.

Conference Presentation: Understanding and Addressing Access Barriers from Youth and Young Adults with Mental Health-Related Disability: A Mixed-Methods Study