Dr. Stephen Lewis

Dr. Stephen P. Lewis is a Research Leadership Chair and Professor in the Department of Psychology, at the University of Guelph. He is Past President and recent Invited Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Self-injury. He is also an elected College Member of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Lewis’ research centres people's lived experience of self-injury and mental health adversity to tackle stigma, promote recovery and resilience, and foster a more compassionate understanding of these concerns in society. To this end, he has published well over 160 academic papers, numerous book chapters, and 2 books including the recently published “Understanding Self-injury: A Person-centred approach.” His own lived experience with self-injury, trauma, suicidality, and mental illness bridges advocacy with academia as reflected in a widely viewed TEDx Talk, published narratives, media stories (e.g., CBC, CNN, New York Times, Good Morning America), a documentary film, and research impacts that extend far beyond traditional scholarship to shape social media policy, create practical guidelines and trainings to support people who self-injure, and empower individuals to work toward recovery. His research and advocacy efforts led to cofounding and serving as Director of Self-injury Outreach & Support (SiOS: www.sioutreach.org). Accessed in over 180 countries, SiOS is an international non-profit initiative providing current information and resources about self-injury to individuals with lived experience and those who support them. 

Dr. Jenny Gomez

Dr. Jenny Gomez is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and young adults in community, educational, and private practice settings. She holds an MA in Counselling Psychology from Western University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Guelph. Throughout her graduate training, she dedicated her research to understanding non-suicidal self-injury, with her doctoral work exploring the role of self-compassion in NSSI recovery as described by individuals with lived experience. Jenny brings a deep care and appreciation for the ways in which NSSI can affect people’s lives and is committed to fostering awareness, compassion, and hope for those navigating self-injury. She is committed to ensuring parents, educators, clinicians, and other stakeholders who support, care for, and interact with individuals who self-injure have access to research-based, trustworthy, and practical guidance