Shaping The Future Of Mental Health Leadership With Akela Peoples, CEO, Mental Health Research Ca...

The current landscape of mental health support in Canada is more critical and complex than ever, with Canadians continuing to struggle under economic pressures and global uncertainty. To explore the path forward, we’re joined by Akela Peoples (  / akelapeoples  ) , CEO of Mental Health Research Canada (https://www.mhrc.ca/)  and a leader twice recognized as one of Canada’s most powerful women. In this essential conversation about the future of mental health leadership, Akela shares her insights on transforming the national approach to mental health. She emphasizes the urgency of collaboration among organizations, advocating for “authentic points of intersection” to achieve collective impact. Akela also discusses how leaders can foster a resilient workforce by embracing flexibility as a key element of mental wellness, drawing on MHRC’s experience of going fully decentralized in 2025, and the critical role of data and evidence-based digital solutions in meeting the country’s rising mental health needs.