Degree

Mental Health Advocate and Trans-health Educator

Biography

Ryan is a trans-health educator, musician, poet, photographer, anti-stigma speaker and storyteller. He lives well with bipolar type 2, and is always looking for ways to break stigma and is available for speaking engagements. Ryan worked as a frontline worker in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Downtown and West End for over 15 years, and is now an Employment & Assistance Worker with the Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction.

He’s a member of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Ryan’s research interests and personal experience are in trauma, self-management of BD, poverty reduction, post-secondary opportunities for youth with bipolar also ageing out of the foster system, transgender advocacy, and harm reduction.

What I do when I'm not working

When I'm not working I can usually be found camping, exploring the Gulf Islands or Howe Sound, making music, taking photographs, cooking, getting lost in a series of geography or medical seminars, spending time with friends or on my own with a good book. I also enjoy comedy and use humour as a positive coping mechanism.

Social media/website

Address

Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
420-5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC