About Us
This page features information about our team and our philosophy, which guides how we make our products.
Our Team
Tina Chan, Founder
MSc. Public Health & Health Systems, University of Waterloo
I founded PASS Inc. in my last years of my undergraduate studies after struggling during my early years of university with anxiety and depression, I eventually built coping skills needed for my final years. One hardship was lack of accessible tools and resources.
I am forever grateful for the community of volunteers, mentors, and co-op students who has worked with PASS Inc. to achieve its impact today.
Community and Alumni
We also receive support and mentorship from advisors at St. Paul’s GreenHouse, Velocity Garage, Conrad Grebel Epp Peace Incubator, EDGE-UCC Network, Innovation Guelph, Homewood Health, and all our customers along the way.
Our Philosophy
Mental health is an all-encompassing and systems-wide concern which takes time to improve across the board, but the higher need for change does not negate the options for help on the individual level.
The onus, however, is not on the individual to instinctively know where to turn when experiencing stress.
Power in Specificity
During times of stress, navigating the solutions and resources of a new system can be stressful as well. Common advice for stress management, such as to “relax,” or “talk to someone,” can be unhelpful without specific actions like how to use breathing techniques or initiate conversations. PASS Inc. helps automate that thinking process by suggesting straightforward actions to reduce stress during times of need.
Science needs Empathy
Scientific knowledge should be presented with empathy at the product design level to invite use, and those with low mental health literacy still experience stress and should be purposefully engaged. Although efforts to ensure accessible human support should be prioritized, there are a multitude of valid reasons why persons experiencing stress will not seek it. PASS Inc. acknowledges that, and works to provide tools inclusive to those in the gap: the time between the onset of stress symptoms and receiving face-to-face support.
Value Reflection
Our products are not designed for treatment, but for supporting and informing individuals to choose the changes that work for them. Non-severe stress-management advice should not be restrictive, as each individual has unique responses and preferences for different approaches. PASS Inc. believes it is important to reflect and adjust, with product design and in personal stress management.