Kandace Peroramas

Biography

My immigrant identity and recovery from mental illness give purpose to my social work practice.

I was born in the Philippines and settled in Moh-kins-tsis with my parents in 2006. Growing up in two cultures comes with a sense of pride and confusion of how to remain true to the distinct norms/values of each. Over the years, the pressure I felt to succeed in all aspects of my identity led to the deterioration of my mental health. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder in 2018.

My first brush with social work happened three years into my recovery journey as I was learning how to offer peer support to folks experiencing mental illness and/or addiction. The systemic barriers to receiving adequate mental healthcare made me increasingly passionate about applying a social justice lens to my mental health advocacy and initiatives.

My work has since taken me to the frontline of a homeless shelter, where I supported with case management and crisis intervention. Most recently, I created a toolkit with the City of Calgary that uses community development to address safety issues in neighbourhoods. The endless learning opportunities within the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work motivate me to become a well-rounded professional.

I am very privileged to work alongside folks who are striving for social justice and equity. On my rest days, you will find me rock climbing in the mountains, running, singing karaoke, or watching movies.

Publications

• Peroramas, K. "Genetic Determinants of Treatment Response in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Systematic Review." Poster presentation at the ACHRI-HBI-Owerko Centre Summer Student Research Symposium, Calgary, Alberta. 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ywuX5wphZfueryVz47ZcHMPmtovAL9uj/view

Awards

• Faculty of Social Work Randy McKay Award (2023)
• Global Skills Opportunity Scholarship (2023)
• Students' Union Mental Health Award (2023)
• Canadian Natural Resources Limited Building Futures Scholarship (2021, 2022)
• Biology Students' Association Advocacy Award (2021)
• Academic Turnaround Program Award (2021)
• Students' Union Volunteer Services Keener Award (2019)
• ATB Financial A.O. Bray Scholarship (2018)
• University of Calgary - Arts and Science Honours Academy Entrance Scholarship in Science (2018)
• Alberta Centennial Award (2018)