S8Ep 2: Youth Voices: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health

For many South Asian families, we talk openly about education, success, and responsibility—but conversations about anxiety, depression, and mental health often remain unspoken. In this episode, we explore the mental health of South Asian youth and the power of youth activism with Sarah Shelke, a UC Berkeley student and founder of Mind4Youth, one of the world’s largest youth-led mental health nonprofits. When young people speak up, challenge stigma, and createspace for honest conversations, change becomes possible. 🎧 Tune in to Between Friends –Conversations with Maitri and join the conversation. Let’s make mental health aconversation, not a silence. Host: Nandini Ray, Sr. Manager, Outreach, Prevention & Policy Advocacy, Maitri. (E) [email protected] | Visit: www.maitri.orgAboutSarah: Sarah Shelke is an Indian American mental health advocate working to make mental health care accessible for youth worldwide. After navigating a family member’s struggle with depression at 13, Sarah founded the nonprofitMind4Youth to expand access to free mental health support, therapy access, and educational resources for teens globally. Since then, Sarah has spoken to members of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, advocatedfor health legislation on Capitol Hill, and supported legislation introduced in the Virginia State Legislature. For her work, Sarah was named to the inaugural TIME Visionaries list and was a 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize Top 3Finalist. Visit: https://mind4youth.com/Formany South Asian families, we talk openly about education, success, andresponsibility—but conversations about anxiety, depression, and mental healthoften remain unspoken. In this episode, we explore the mental health of SouthAsian youth and the power of youth activism with Sarah Shelke, a UC Berkeleystudent and founder of Mind4Youth, one of the world’s largest youth-led mentalhealth nonprofits. When young people speak up, challenge stigma, and createspace for honest conversations, change becomes possible. 🎧 Tune in to Between Friends –Conversations with Maitri and join the conversation. Let’s make mental health aconversation, not a silence. Host:Nandini Ray, Sr. Manager, Outreach, Prevention & Policy Advocacy, Maitri.(E) [email protected] | Visit: www.maitri.orgAboutSarah: Sarah Shelke is an Indian American mental health advocate working tomake mental health care accessible for youth worldwide. After navigating afamily member’s struggle with depression at 13, Sarah founded the nonprofitMind4Youth to expand access to free mental health support, therapy access, andeducational resources for teens globally. Since then, Sarah has spoken tomembers of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, advocatedfor health legislation on Capitol Hill, and supported legislation introduced inthe Virginia State Legislature. For her work, Sarah was named to the inauguralTIME Visionaries list and was a 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize Top 3Finalist. Visit: https://mind4youth.com/