ADHDAdvisor's Mental Health Advocate Scholarship

I still remember the way my friend Sam’s voice broke as he confessed over the phone to me that he wanted to commit suicide. He sounded so hopeless, so distraught, as if he had nothing for which to live. Talking to him over the phone was bittersweet – I was heartbroken that he was experiencing suicidal thoughts, glad that I had the tools to calm him down, and sobered by the realization that if not for my own suicidal thoughts a few years earlier, I wouldn't have known how to help Sam. I am grateful that my friend is still alive and thriving today. Both of us have a second chance at living – but, as many stories show, not everyone is so blessed. After helping friend after friend with their mental health struggles, I realized that so many teenagers suffer in silence. Roughly one in five teens struggle with clinical depression, and nearly a third struggle with anxiety. Even with these crippling statistics, our society still stigmatizes people with mental health issues as unusual, pathetic, or asking for attention. So often, teenagers feel like there is no hope for their lives, even though we’ve only just begun our lives and have yet to experience so much joy. I hope that through a career in psychology, I can help teenagers discover this joy and realize that there truly is hope for their lives.  I’ve always been passionate about psychology and Music Therapy as a form of psychology, and my past mental health struggles and motivation to help others intensify this passion. After receiving degrees in Psychology and Music Therapy, I hope to open a private therapy practice and earn my Board Certification in Music Therapy. Through my work, I hope to create a welcoming and non-judgemental platform for teenagers and adults to feel safe and supported to ask for help. After establishing a private practice, I hope to offer free counseling services to my community for lower-income families who might not otherwise be able to access mental health services. I’ve seen the tragic effects suicide and mental illnesses have on my family and close friends. These experiences have inspired me to change the dialogue surrounding mental health. If I receive this scholarship, I will use it to help other teenagers like my cousin and my friend Sam realize that they are loved and worthy of life.