By Vrinda Madan, Flawless Intern
This past week, I attended an advocacy event in Washington, DC with the Flawless Foundation: The Kennedy Forum Agenda for Change. It was an incredible event full of moving stories, inspiring speeches, and calls for change from our nation’s leaders. There was one voice, however, that particularly stood out – the voice of a young student. She stood up during the closing Q&A session and described the shortcomings of her district’s mental health care, saying that she saw the real failings of the system all around her neighborhood. “But I want to change that,” she closed her remarks.
After the audience broke into a roar of applause, the panel speakers each offered ways in which she could create change, while lauding her for her efforts at such a young age. The panel’s message was this: by showing up to advocate at these types of events, she was making a difference.
As a college student myself, I know my generation is keeping a close eye on the progress of mental health care, and we are not just sitting and watching. Like me, they are already up on their feet with a fervent drive to enact change. Now more than ever, it is important to include young people in our conversations regarding mental health. Many of the decisions that are being made today have direct consequences on the youth population. Thus, it is important for our voices to be heard and represented.
Youth advocates around the world have recently exemplified how they are engines of change. The next generation has the power to change the systems currently in place, but we need to be empowered to do so, ensuring that our voices are being heard. We need to encourage all of my peers to think outside of the box, and allow them to reach their full potential as drivers of change.
As the event came to an end, the audience was brimming with optimism. This student was a humbling reminder that age is just a number. With passion, drive, and hard work, anyone has the power to make a difference, which I see every day on my college campus and from working with my fellow interns at Flawless. I can’t wait to see how my generation continues to rise to the challenge of tackling these increasingly complex societal issues, and I am grateful for the hope and optimism that they bring to the mental health advocacy movement.
