We are Vivila Liu (she/they) and Ellis Furman (they/them)—co-founders of Mental Health Learning.

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We met during our graduate training in community psychology, where we were both drawn to the same question:
What supports people’s health and well-being—not just as individuals, but in relationships, families, schools, and systems?

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We started this work because we didn’t see the kind of care we needed:
Support that’s grounded in real life, not just theory or publications.
Support that starts with prevention, not just reaction.
Support that invites reflection, not performance.

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Mental Health Learning grew out of those commitments.
A space where people don’t have to be in crisis to ask for help.
A space guided by curiosity, creativity, and compassion.
A space for real support—relational, practical, and non-performative.

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Together, we’ve spent almost a decade working in education, research, peer support, and care.
 

Our approach is shaped by compassion, trauma-aware practices, feminist and community-based frameworks, and a deep respect for the contexts people live within.
 

We’re both currently practicing under clinical supervision as we work toward full registration as mental health professionals in Ontario.