Provost's Office Newsletter

Dr. Andrew Szeto. PhD has been the Director of the Campus Mental Health Strategy since 2015. He's a family man with a passion for collaboration in the field of mental health, but did you know he used to be a punk rock sushi master?

1. How did you get into the field of psychology?

I was always interested in people, their motivations, and why people did the things that they do. I also watched quite a bit of Law & Order in high school, so I went to the University of Alberta with the hopes of going into the criminology program. After taking a couple of psychology courses, I decided to switch my major. In the psychology honours program, I conducted a study examining depression diagnostic tools in Chinese students.

After taking a two-year hiatus, I went to Western University for graduate school studying social psychology and conducting cross-cultural research that examined uncertainty, achievement, and person/culture fit. During grad school, I was also a part of a research group that examined the stigma of schizophrenia. These studies were really my introduction into stigma and mental health research. This work also helped me get my first job as a post-doctoral scholar funded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada here at the University of Calgary. I have been conducting research in this topic ever since.

2. What’s your favourite kind of music?

If you looked on my Spotify at this moment, you will probably find lots of different types of music with predominantly children’s music for my young daughter, including the Wiggles, Raffi, Charlie Hope, and lots of songs from Disney movies. If you look a little harder, you will also find lots of SoCal skate punk from the 1990s to the 2000s. So you can say I am a punk rocker at heart.

3. What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?

During my two-year hiatus between undergrad and grad school, I was head chef at a sushi restaurant. I have always enjoyed food and cooking my whole life, from watching my grandma or my mom make dinner to exploring foods from different places and cultures as an adult. I suspect I would probably be working in the food/restaurant industry if it were not for university.

I was also a punk rocker in my younger days – I had long hair past my shoulders. Often, my hair was partially red, green, or blonde.

4. What’s one of the most rewarding things about being the Director of the Campus Mental Health Strategy?

There are so many things I could name! One of the most rewarding things about being in this position is getting to work and collaborate with so many great people on campus and in our community. I have learned so much from their diverse viewpoints, humbled by their knowledge and wisdom, and inspired by their passion and dedication.

5. Can you share some tactics that you use to take care of your mental wellbeing?

For me, I make connecting with family a priority. In general, the hours between 5 - 9 p.m., I have blocked off to spend time with my family. This includes eating dinner together, playing outside with my daughter, or going for a walk as a family. Of course, this doesn’t always happen due to competing schedules and having a fun, spirited three and a half year-old, but it does happen more days than not.

I also make participating in sports a priority as well. As a child, I always enjoyed playing team sports and continue to this day. I play slo-pitch in the summer and hockey all year round. The hour and a half that I am playing ball or hockey, I get to engage in much needed physical activity and also get to connect socially with a great group of people.