WLU social work student awarded $7,500 scholarship

WATERLOO — A social work student at Wilfrid Laurier University received a $7,500 scholarship from the province.

Julia Read is just one of two students to be awarded the Hilary M. Weston Scholarship for their outstanding efforts in the study of mental health. The Ontario government created the scholarships in honour of Hilary M. Weston, the province’s 26th lieutenant governor.

Julia Read, a PhD student in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University and addiction therapist, will receive the award for her research into how peer support and lived experiences affect the delivery of mental health and addictions services.

More people with lived experience are involved with services, but that peer role is not well understood.

“It’s great to say lets hire people with lived experience,” Read said. “We need to look at the complexities once we do.”

She also wants to help move the understanding of addiction beyond the narrow focus of the medicalized model to take into consideration factors such as the social, economic and political context.

“I’m really hoping to open up a broader discussion of addiction,” Read said.

The other recipient is a master’s of social work student at Carleton and child welfare advocate focused on enhancing supports to children and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and their caregivers.

The scholarships were announced last week during Mental Health Week.