Executive Director
Emily cox, Executive Director
Mental health advocacy is crucial to me. Having witnessed loved ones struggle with their mental health, I hope to educate others about mental health and illness, and help reduce the stigma surrounding it. I believe OTS's work in empowering others and continuing the conversation is crucial. Through OTS, I hope to help break down the stigma and foster an inclusive, supportive, connected environment.
Outside of my work with OTS, I am a medical student and I like to read, run, and knit. A fun fact about myself is that I spent the fourth year of my degree on exchange in Stockholm! I love to travel and have so far visited 31 countries!
Reach me at: emilycox@outrunthestigma.ca
Program Management Team
Jessica Odyjewski, Program co-Director, Edmonton
Hi! I have just completed the last year of dietetics specialization at the University of Alberta.
I have been involved with Outrun the Stigma since 2017 when Outrun the Stigma first started in Edmonton! Mental health is a topic I am deeply passionate about, and I believe that everyone should be able to seek the support they need without fear of stigmatization. I believe that Outrun the Stigma is vital in reducing stigma by creating a supportive and respectful annual mental health awareness run and expo. These events empower community members to advocate for change, continue conversations about mental health and connect with mental health resources.
A fun fact about me is that I love doing jigsaw puzzles! The biggest one I have completed so far is 3000 pieces.
Reach me at: jessicaodyjewski@outrunthestigma.ca
kaylee Orritt, Program co-Director, Calgary
Currently, I have completed a degree in Biological Science from the University of Calgary, and am looking forward to furthering my education in the coming years.
I became involved with Outrun the Stigma through friends, as I wanted to learn about and get involved in mental health awareness initiatives. Growing up in rural Alberta, mental health was heavily stigmatized and almost never talked about. It wasn’t until I reached university that I began to truly understand the importance of mental wellness and the little, everyday things that could lead to big results! To me, Outrun the Stigma is a way to break barriers and provide support to our communities regarding mental health awareness. It’s a way to not only start a conversation, but change it from illness to wellness. Overall, it provides resources to our community and empowers youth to create change.
A fun fact about me is that I love the water! Growing up, my family called me the fish and even now I take any chance I get to paddle board, wakeboard, waterski, surf, or just go boating!
Reach me at: calgary@outrunthestigma.ca
Rural Mental Health Team
youth and community empowerment Team
Jenn chow, assistant director of leadership development
I am a third year Health Sciences student majoring in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Calgary.
I have struggled with anxiety and have experienced firsthand the stigma that society has around mental health. At first, I hid my struggle for fear of ridicule, but I realized that many people wanted to help me. I joined Outrun the Stigma because everyone deserves to be supported in their mental health journey, and conversations about mental health are essential to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, educate about resources available, and encourage individuals to seek help if needed. I hope to empower youth to become mental health advocates for themselves and others, as well as leaders in their communities.
A fun fact about myself is that I am a proud Hufflepuff and a huge fan of the Harry Potter series! I also love to crochet amigurumi, which is the Japanese art of crocheting cute dolls. Crochet helps my mental health by balancing out my analytical brain with stress-relieving creativity!
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO RESEARCH TEAM
Clare Hickie, Community Connections to Research Director
I am currently finishing off my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Calgary while also working as a research assistant at the SU Wellness Centre. I plan on applying for graduate programs in counselling psychology or community health over the next few years, after taking a short break from academia to rest and relax!
I became involved with mental health advocacy due to an interest in mental health and my own experiences with anxiety and depression. I continue to struggle with anxiety and depression on a daily basis, but am committed to finding a balanced lifestyle where I feel healthy, and in sharing my experiences and helping others reach out for help.
I love creative writing and would love to someday write a book series that draws inspiration from my experiences with depression!
Reach me at: clarehickie@outrunthestigma.ca
COMMunications TEam
AGNES VISAN, CommunICATIONS DIRECTOr
Alumni Engagement Team
Lauren Bowron, Alumni Co-Director
I am a first-year MSc student in Microbiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary.
Mental health advocacy has become increasingly important as the mental health crisis surges locally and globally. Personal experience as well as conversations with friends and family inspired me to get involved in OTS so that I may join the effort to end the stigma around mental health. I believe it is crucial to make mental health a centralised aspect in health care to help combat the crisis we are facing. Open conversation is one way we can help break the barriers surrounding mental health and aid in public education. This would help to create supportive and inclusive communities and contribute to ending the stigma. I believe OTS plays an important role in our community by sparking that conversation and providing a safe and supportive space. Mental health is important in every aspect of our lives and so it is time to make it a priority. Let’s speak up and come together to end the stigma.
A fun fact about me is that I’m a keen explorer of historic infrastructure. I’ve even explored every (currently excavated) street of Pompeii!
Julia froese, Alumni Co-Director
For the past nine years, I have been working with individuals who have been affected (directly and/or indirectly) by mental health issues and its associating stigma. Currently, I am a fifth-year Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation (KSR) at the University of Alberta and my research focuses on suicide bereavement.
I am grateful for the existing suicide prevention initiatives and mental health awareness campaigns that have made differences for those experiencing mental health issues and illnesses. I hope my involvement in OTS helps advance these efforts while also broadening the stigma discussion beyond an individualized and medicalized version of mental health. Mental health issues are often more than a medical issue: they are a social inequality issue. As such, it is important within stigma discourse not to lose sight of the host of systemic factors fundamental to mental health.
Outside of my studies and an endless reading list, I try to travel, snowboard, and spend as much time with my friends and family as I can!