Meagan Yarmey PhD, MSW, RSW
Applied Wellbeing Design for Institutions and Organisations
Wellbeing is a capacity to be built, not a problem to be managed.
That distinction shapes everything about how this work is done.
I work with schools, universities, healthcare systems, and organisations to design and strengthen wellbeing functions at the structural level. This is applied psychological science in an institutional context: rigorous, practical, and grounded in how people and systems actually work.
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This work draws on direct experience designing Havergal College's first institutional wellbeing framework and leading Mental Health Literacy Certificate development at the University of Waterloo, following a national audit of post-secondary programs across North America.
Co-author, How to Survive Life (Orca Books, Fall 2027). A practical wellbeing guide for young people covering resilience, self-awareness, goal setting, and social skills. The book brings the same evidence-informed approach that underpins the Five by Five Wellbeing Model to a broader audience.
Selected Work
Director of Wellbeing, Havergal College, Toronto (2021 to 2022)
Designed and led the school's first institutional wellbeing function. Conducted a school-wide audit, developed a strategic roadmap, and built Havergal's inaugural Wellbeing Framework integrating five domains, five pathways, and three core learning outcomes. Founded Thrive Week, established the Wellbeing Council, led a team of five health professionals, and partnered with Authentic Connections (Dr. Suniya Luthar, Columbia University) on a school-wide resilience study across Grades 2 to 12.
Lead, Content Development, Mental Health Literacy Certificate, University of Waterloo (2020 to 2021)
Led curriculum design and content development following a national environmental scan of post-secondary mental health literacy programs across Canada and the United States. Designed evaluation metrics and produced program recommendations adopted by Campus Wellness leadership.
"The 'Play Big, Reset Fast' workshop gave our players real, practical tools to recover from mistakes, negative self-talk, and doubt
— and build a repeatable foundation. Weeks later our players and coaches continue to recall the tips and techniques."
— Jean-Serge Bidal, Assistant Coach, 17UG Titans Khaos, OVA
What the Work Involves
Engagements are tailored to the specific context and goals of each institution. They typically involve some combination of the following.
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Wellbeing audits and needs assessments map existing programs, identify gaps, and produce evidence-based recommendations for strategic direction. Framework design develops a coherent, evidence-informed structure with defined domains, developmental pathways, and measurable outcomes built for the specific community it will serve. Mental health literacy program development designs curriculum and evaluation frameworks for role-differentiated, competency-based training across institutional communities.
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Additional work includes protocol and policy review, professional development and training for faculty, staff, and leadership, and strategic consultation on the design, implementation, and evaluation of wellbeing initiatives at the systems level.
A Framework Built for This Work
The Five by Five Wellbeing Model is an evidence-informed framework integrating five domains of wellbeing, psychological, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual, with five developmental pathways: self-awareness, self-regulation, mental agility, vitality, and social connection. These map to three core outcomes: agency, flexibility, and connectedness.
Developmentally flexible and contextually adaptable, the framework has been applied in independent school settings to structure whole-community wellbeing strategy and in post-secondary contexts to anchor mental health literacy curriculum design. It is available for institutional licensing and adaptation.
Start a Conversation
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Engagements are scoped to the specific context and stage of each institution. There is no standard package. The work begins with understanding what you are trying to build and what is already in place.
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All enquiries are handled directly and confidentially. The conversation begins with understanding what you are working on. There is no obligation beyond that.
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