Swelen Andari

Swelen Andari is the Director Strategy, Climate Resilience & Youth Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). They are implementing a demonstration initiative aimed at advancing research on climate distress, climate action, and hope for youth. Swelen is also supporting the development of plans to integrate climate adaptation and mitigation solutions within CAMH to advance mental health in the face of climate change. Trained as a Creative Arts Therapist, Swelen has a decade of experience leading the implementation of system-level initiatives aimed at improving access, service design, prevention, and building leadership for youth with lived experience in the child and youth mental health system in Ontario. Some of these initiatives include managing the provincial implementation of YWHO, Peer Positive, and Early Steps to Success in Etobicoke. Swelen’s career has focused on moving research into viable action by facilitating processes grounded in implementation science, systems thinking, innovation, decolonial practices, and equitable community engagement. For the last five years, she has also been part of multiple local and national climate justice organizing efforts through Climate Justice Toronto, 350’s Our Time Campaign, and co-designing a social movement organization aimed at winning real climate solutions by securing good work and dignified lives for all.