Tina Gandhi is a champion and advocate for autism and mental health awareness who is currently part of a multi-disciplinary team at Surrey Place, an agency serving people of all ages with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.
On weekends, Tina has a private practice, counselling newly-diagnosed children, teens and families. During the pandemic, Tina continued to deliver services in-person, while also working to address increased demand by developing and hosting virtual groups for individuals as well as for parents and caregivers of those with autism.
At Surrey Place, Tina is a Master level Suicide Prevention Trainer and a mental health ambassador, where she has been instrumental in creating customized resource materials for each team.
For more than ten years, Tina has been committed to sharing her social work knowledge by providing supervision and mentoring for MSW students from Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Toronto and York University. She has conducted training sessions for both nursing and physician students at the University of Toronto, and has presented an online educational series focusing on group work and autism.
At Sheridan College, Tina provided invaluable input in developing and incorporating curriculum changes in the Social Service and Bachelor of Social and Community Development programs.
Tina has delivered an extensive array of presentations focusing on mental health at schools, universities and conferences, sharing relatable experiences and relevant case examples, often emphasizing the importance of respite for families.