Welcome!

My name is Ruo and I am a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the University of Ottawa, under the supervision of Dr. Irene Vitoroulis. My doctoral research centers around understanding the barriers and facilitators to seeking help and accessing mental health services among immigrant youth, with an emphasis on stigma, intersectionality, and racial discrimination. Clinically, I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults in school, hospital, private practice, and community settings. In my free time, I love to dance, read, visit coffee shops, and watch anime.

Research

My research interests broadly fit within the intersection of social, cultural, and clinical psychology. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC), my graduate work examines mental health among youth from IRER (immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural, and racialized) backgrounds.

  • Help-Seeking

    What barriers and facilitators influence IRER youths' mental health help-seeking and service use?

  • Racial Discrimination

    How do IRER youths' experiences of racial overt and covert discrimination predict mental health outcomes?

  • Social Networks

    How do social networks play a role in IRER youths' mental health and well-being?

Contact