Getting To Know: Tina Chan
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, in any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health or addiction problem, and approximately 20% of all Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime. As we continue to learn more about mental health and addictions, Tina Chan is hoping to aid in finding a solution. “I started a business called PASS Kit (Panic, Anxiety and Stress Support Kit), which serves as a first aid kit for mental health. These kits aim to lower the stress symptoms of its user, and to build stigma free communities and stimulate the mental health dialogue — starting with students and campuses,” she says.
After winning a pitch competition at St. Paul’s GreenHouse, Tina enlisted in the social entrepreneurship channel of their incubator program. As she continued her education, Tina realized how daunting school could be, especially in post-secondary educational environments. “Mental health is an observable problem on school campuses, and I experienced stress and suffered from anxiety during my time as a university student,” she states. Transferring that knowledge into creating her own business, Tina continues, saying, “Burnout is real. Take care of yourself, especially when you are starting off as the sole employee. If you crash, so does your business if there is poor timing.”
Although there’s not one clear-cut solution for all mental health issues, Tina believes that with proper investment, she’d be able to improve the design of the PASS kit, build inventory, start an app and, of course, introduce the kit into other regions. “Do not be afraid to fail, and talk to as many people as possible. The more critical, the better.”
You can find more information about Tina’s PASS Kit on social media or email her directly (tina@mypasskit.com).
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mypasskit
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mypasskit
Story Written by Erin Ashley
Tina is a participant in the Hook It Up program delivered by Socent7. Hook It Up is a support program for young social entrepreneurs in Ontario. Learn more at www.hookitup.ca.
**END OF PROGRAM UPDATE** With Hook it Up’s support Tina was able to improve her marketing materials, invest in further inventory, and ultimately double her PASS Kit sales. Her message to other young entrepreneurs: “Getting a group with diverse talents and skill sets is important — make sure they are passionate about the problem you are trying to solve. Also, don’t slack on equipment. You may be a struggling startup but don’t look like one. A faulty laptop can set you weeks behind.”
