缅北强奸

A 'fierce advocate' for mental health: Remembering 缅北强奸 student Zeynab Asadi Lari

photo of Zeynab Asadi Lari
Zeynab Asadi Lari, a fourth-year student at 缅北强奸 Mississauga, is described as a 鈥渇ierce advocate鈥 for mental health, reducing stigma, public health and global health (photo courtesy of STEM Fellowship, 缅北强奸 Mississauga branch)

The University of Toronto community is remembering students who were passengers on Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, which crashed on Jan. 8 outside of Tehran, Iran. Over the coming days, 缅北强奸 News will share stories about the students and their legacies. We will update the stories as new information becomes available.


Zeynab Asadi Lari, a fourth-year student pursuing an honours bachelor of science at 缅北强奸 Mississauga, is being remembered as an accomplished young leader, mentor and friend.

She was travelling with her brother, 缅北强奸 Faculty of Medicine student Mohammad Asadi Lari.

Associate Professor Fiona Rawle, associate dean, undergraduate, says she can still clearly recall Asadi Lari walking down the steps of the lecture hall and introducing herself after her first biology class 鈥 she was full of curiosity and always asked relevant questions.

鈥淪he was a scientist from the start,鈥 Rawle says, adding that Asadi Lari had plans and dreams to improve people鈥檚 lives.

A 鈥渇ierce advocate鈥 for mental health, reducing stigma, public health and global health, Rawle says when faced with a barrier, Asadi Lari would look for solutions and always followed up her ideas with action.

鈥淪he was fiercely competitive with herself but collaborative with others,鈥 Rawle recalls, explaining Asadi Lari had an incredible capacity to build relationships and exhibited 鈥渢remendous leadership skills.鈥 She could often be found mentoring others.

Rawle says she can see the impact Asadi Lari had on her fellow students, who have been brought together in their shared grief.

Asadi Lari was the founder and president of the 缅北强奸 Mississauga branch of STEM Fellowship, a student-run, non-profit organization that strives to engage future STEM leaders and innovators in data science and scientific communication. Her brother, Mohammad, was a co-founder and former managing director with the organization.

Dr. Sasha Noukhovitch, founder of STEM Fellowship, describes Asadi Lari in a statement as a 鈥渃reative, hardworking, committed young leader who made invaluable contributions to STEM Fellowship.鈥 He says she brought passion and enthusiasm that were 鈥渨armly welcomed by her community,鈥 and was a patient and encouraging mentor who was always willing to lend a hand and support those around her.

鈥淪he demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering equity in medicine and global health, increasing community involvement and tackling stigma surrounding mental health,鈥 the statement says.

Zeynab was an active member of her community, with a strong admiration for medicine, public and global health, STEM education, mental health advocacy and humanitarianism. She served as the mental health network co-ordinator for the Youth Mental Health Association, a youth member at Young Canadians Roundtable on Health, and executive board member at the Iran University of Medical Sciences Medical Student Association for Cancer Research. She previously interned with the Worth Health Organization.

鈥淭heir passing is an unimaginable loss for their family, friends and communities they were part of,鈥 Noukhovitch鈥檚 statement continues. 鈥淒uring their lives, they touched many people with their tireless altruism and advocacy, and with their deep care for the people around them.鈥


Round-the-clock support:

Students can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.

  •  1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.  

Other 24-7 supports available to students include:

  •  Student Helpline 1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.
  •  416-929-5200 
  •  416-408-HELP (4357)
  • The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 
  •  416-360-0486

The following services are available to students on all three campuses:

  •          St. George campus:  (416-978-8030), located at 
  •          缅北强奸 Scarborough:  416-287-7065 
  •          缅北强奸 Mississauga:  905-828-5255

Faculty and staff have access to 24-7 support through:

  • The , offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142
 
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