Sarah Alakshar - Smart phones and mental health

By Andres J. Mona

Sarah's hometown: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Western PhD student Sarah Alakshar aims to improve mental health resources by studying the impact of smart phone use on youth, reflecting her passion for education and commitment to bridging cultural divides.

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Sarah Alakshar, a PhD student in the Health Information Science Program at Western University, embodies the intersection of diverse cultural experiences and a fervent dedication to advancing digital health research.

With a background in clinical pharmacy and a personal history spanning from the United Arab Emirates to Canada, Sarah’s journey has been marked by a commitment to understanding and improving the well-being of youth, particularly in the realm of mental health.

Coming from the United Arab Emirates in 1998, Canada presented a vastly different cultural landscape for Sarah. This contrast significantly shaped her way of seeing the world.

Raised in a Syrian Arab household, Sarah navigated the complexities of a new country while maintaining a strong connection to her heritage. In 2002, she returned to the UAE to complete a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a master’s in clinical pharmacy at Ajman University. Sarah would then venture back to Canada in 2015 to embark on her PhD at Western University.

Fun Fact

Sarah volunteers at the Muslim Wellness Network where she teaches kids of all ages how to read the Quran in Arabic.

Driven by her passion for improving mental health resources, Sarah’s research focuses on using digital interventions to address the multifaceted health needs of youth.

Under the guidance of her supervisor, Dr. Tarun Katapally, Canada Research Chair in Digital Health for Equity, Sarah collaborates with his Digital Epidemiology and Population Health Lab (DEPtH) to investigate the impact of smartphone use on youth sedentary behaviour and physical activity.

Her work delves into the nuanced relationship between smartphone usage and mental health outcomes, aiming to uncover insights that can inform the development of ethical and effective digital health platforms tailored to the needs of today’s youth.

The Potential of Digital Health

Having witnessed the stigma surrounding mental health while growing up, Sarah is acutely aware of the urgent need for accessible and culturally sensitive resources.

In her research, Sarah investigates the effect that smartphone use has on mental health. Her ultimate goal is to improve mental health resources and support systems worldwide.

"Digital health has the potential to improve the access of mental health resources here in Canada and even globally." - Sarah Alakshar

Outside of her academic pursuits, Sarah is a mother of three, a boy and two girls. She also volunteers at her local mosque and teaches kids of all ages how to read the Quran.

Through her work with kids, Sarah finds inspiration in their eagerness to learn and grow, reinforcing her belief in the transformative power of education.

“I’m very passionate about teaching... that’s something that I love doing. Getting my PhD is going to help me get a job in academia, to continue doing research and to continue learning.”

Reflecting on her research and teaching endeavours, Sarah emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex realities of youth digital engagement.

“Studying the patterns and behaviour of smartphone use among the youth is greatly important when developing digital health platforms and when giving people access to these platforms.”

To find out more about the Health Information Science (HIS) program, visit: https://www.fims.uwo.ca/phdhis 

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Grad student profiles in the Meet Our Students section are written by students in the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program, who are enrolled in MMJC 9604 - Professional Writing.