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WORLD HEALTH
ASSEMBLY SIMULATION
Side Event: Wellness and Mindfulness
Harvey A. Skinner
Dr. Harvey Skinner is Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Global Health at York University, where he was the founding Dean (2006–2016) of the Faculty of Health. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research. Previously, he served as Chair of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto. A registered psychologist and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Harvey ranks in the Top 2% of World Scientists based on citations and impact metrics according to Stanford University.
An internationally recognized educator and scholar, Harvey has authored seven books and over 150 articles. He developed several widely used assessment tools, including the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST), Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS), Family Assessment Measure (FAM), and eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). His work connects behavior change, organizational improvement, and e-health, highlighted in his book Promoting Health Through Organizational Change (2002).
Harvey co-leads the Global Health: Wellness Impact Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute, focusing on global mental health through Eastern, Indigenous, and Western practices. He has advanced training in Qi Gong and Capacitar healing practices and leads online "Stress Busting" wellness sessions. Personally, he practices mindfulness and Qi Gong, driven by a passion for "healing ourselves, healing others, healing our world.
Susan Harris
Susan (she/her) holds an Honours BA in Psychology from the University of Windsor and an MSW from the University of Toronto. With over 40 years of experience in mental health, abuse, and trauma, she has worked across roles from front-line service to leadership. Throughout her career, Susan has provided individual, family, and group therapy; supervised staff; developed and evaluated programs; built partnerships; led community collaborations; and advocated for systemic change.A dedicated meditator for over 30 years, Susan co-developed the Mindfulness-Based Trauma Counselling Group Program for survivors of abuse and trauma. She completed the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, as well as the Community Dharma Teacher Training through True North Insight. Susan currently leads a monthly 3-hour sangha in the GTA and teaches weekly mindfulness and compassion sessions. Susan is deeply engaged in eco-activism, supporting others in facing the distress of environmental disruption and climate chaos through mindfulness and compassion. She co-leads the Wellness Impact Lab at the Dahdaleh Global Health Institute at York University as a Community Fellow. As a white-bodied person, Susan is committed to the inner work of racial healing. She is a proud mother, grandmother, partner, friend, dog lover, and performer with Red Rebels Toronto.