On February 21, 2018, the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (MDAO), in collaboration with CAN-BIND and the ASR Suicide and Depression Studies Program, offered a free public talk on suicide awareness from a lens of hope and recovery. CAN-BIND Scientist Dr. Sakina Rizvi presented stories of hope from research and shared the latest on biological and behavioural risk factors for suicide and treatment resistant depression. The award-winning Toastmasters speaker, Ethelrida Zabala Laxa, shared her recovery story and original music about her journey from despair to hope.
Overall the event received very positive feedback. Some quotes from attendees are below:
- “The event was very helpful and educational. We need more of these types of events for the community, especially in the Asian community…Thank you for the evening. It was very educational and informative.”
- “The clear explanation of difficult science was great.”
