University is a time of incredible growth, but it can also be tough. The pressure to succeed, the uncertainty of the future, and the daily mental strain can be a lot to handle. That’s why EVOLVERE Mental Health was developed. This student-driven initiative is aiming to rewrite how mental health support is delivered across campuses with a peer-first, tech-powered approach to create a community that truly understands. Whether you connect through an online forum, join a guided challenge, or attend a campus event, EVOLVERE is building an ecosystem of support that lives right where students do: on campus, online, and soon, in their pockets.
We sat down with Founder Tanisha Sylvester, a graduate from the University of Toronto’s (U of T) Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and lead mobile developer Matthew Wu, a recent U of T’s Arts & Science graduate, to discuss EVOLVERE’s mission and the upcoming launch of their mobile app. Here’s what we learned about the power of peer support and the tech that makes it all possible.
The Peer-to-Peer Power of Mental Health Support
EVOLVERE’s ecosystem is built on the simple yet transformative idea of students supporting students. It offers a web-based prototype platform and hosts in-person events like workshops and panels, all while being powered by student-led chapters. Sylvester explains that many existing mental health resources are "unilateral and are student-informed or curated for students, but are not co-designed by students with diverse perspectives." This is why EVOLVERE was created alongside students at every stage, from concept to delivery, ensuring the platform is deeply informed by their experiences and better equipped to amplify their voices.
This student-centered mission comes to life through a growing network of campus chapters and outreach campaigns. From U of T's St. George campus to Scarborough and Mississauga, students are leading the way in shaping resources that are personal, practical, and, most importantly, relatable. Whether it's a campaign supporting international students or an event connecting undergraduates and alumni, every conversation sparked through EVOLVERE is grounded in real student voices.
Sylvester emphasizes the power of peer-led support, stating that it "facilitates relatability and the expansion of one’s support network, helps frame mental health support as viable, and addresses a key barrier students face to accessing support by reducing stigma through open conversations." This peer-to-peer approach is a valuable complement to professional mental health services, offering a vital first step, an ongoing layer of support, or a gentle bridge to broader care when needed. As one student testimonial summarized, “EVOLVERE creates a feeling of community where students feel understood and talked to on an eye-to-eye level.”
Building Community & Support Across Campuses
What started as a vision has rapidly blossomed into a thriving, multi-campus movement. In 2024, EVOLVERE launched its first student-led chapters at U of T, drawing an immediate and enthusiastic response.
Sylvester highlights the incredible momentum: “After a single three-week outreach campaign, EVOLVERE was able to establish chapter leadership teams of over 20 undergraduate and graduate students.”
While the chapters at U of T's St. George, UTM, and UTSC campuses are still in their foundational stage and preparing to host their own events, EVOLVERE's central team has already executed several impactful in-person events and digital campaigns. These initiatives are custom-tailored to address the unique needs of specific student populations within the U of T community.
One of EVOLVERE’s most impactful efforts to date is the International Students' Mental Health series, now in its second iteration. Created by international students, for international students, this series directly tackles the challenges of navigating university life far from home. It features honest reflections from student leaders on their personal journeys, offering concrete tips for adjustment and cultural insights. This resource has been crucial, serving as both a mirror and a roadmap for current and future international students at U of T.
To stay aligned with addressing unique needs, chapters will regularly conduct student surveys, analyze the data, and collaborate on cross-campus initiatives. This decentralized yet connected approach keeps EVOLVERE responsive and rooted in the communities it serves. Sylvester shares, “It is our vision to evolve the ways that students understand and support their mental health.”
And it’s not just U of T. EVOLVERE is laying the groundwork to expand provincially and nationally, using its campus model to build a pan-Canadian network of peer-driven support. Piloting at U of T has allowed the team to refine their infrastructure and develop meaningful relationships with students and community groups across UTSG, UTSC, and UTM. That organic connection has already fueled growth, sparking the unexpected early launch of EVOLVERE’s Youth Chapter, led by high school students Franchesca Go, Megan Kwan, and Ashley Dong. “We were originally focused on establishing chapters within three universities and three colleges in the GTA,” says Sylvester, “but the word-of-mouth buzz led to students reaching out to us first.”
The Tech Behind the Support
While EVOLVERE has established a strong grassroots presence, its mobile app, set to launch in September 2025, is poised to become the cornerstone of its digital ecosystem. Designed by students for students, the app puts customizable, welcoming mental health support right in the palm of your hand.
Wu joined the team in 2024 as a computer science student at U of T. He explains that the app’s vision is to be a “safe, authentic space for students to build community.” This is realized through an intuitive design and a focus on deep personalization. The app's three core features, a peer-to-peer Forum, a curated article Catalog, and multi-day Challenges for actionable wellness steps, are all tailored to a student’s specific needs from the moment they log in.
Wu emphasizes user experience, ensuring the app is both familiar and predictable. "Features like swiping on a page and tapping on a heart icon should warrant a response that students have seen in other widely used apps," he says. The app also prioritizes safety and accessibility with a robust content moderation system, user reporting, and direct links to crisis services.
Looking Ahead
With its official launch in fall 2025, EVOLVERE is ready to redefine campus mental health support. The team's long-term vision is clear: to embed their peer-driven infrastructure within institutional support systems, empowering students to become active co-creators of their own wellness ecosystem. For campus leaders and policymakers, this model is a powerful blueprint for innovation, uniquely centered on student insights, digital accessibility, and grassroots collaboration. As Sylvester concludes, "it is time to evolve our understanding and approach to mental health in a way that allows all voices to be heard and included.”