Kathleen MacLaurin, a Master of Social Work student at Carleton University and child welfare advocate, will receive the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship for her research and advocacy for enhancing supports to children and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and their caregivers.
Each year, two students who are enrolled in full-time graduate programs at a publicly funded Ontario university receive this scholarship, worth $7,500 each, to support their studies. They were chosen by an independent selection committee in recognition of their academic excellence and commitment to advancing mental health research.
The second recipient was Julia Read, a PhD student in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University and addiction therapist.
Approximately 30 per cent of people in Ontario will experience a mental health and/or substance abuse challenge at some point in their lifetime, with one in 40 Ontarians experiencing a serious mental illness.
“These two impressive students should be celebrated for their dedication to improving the lives of others,” said Laura Albanese, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. “They have both been motivated by powerful life experiences to make a positive impact in their fields. Innovative research like this will help us improve mental health treatment programs for all Ontarians.”
More information is available on the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship web page.
This year, Mental Health Week runs from May 1 – 7.
