Seika Brown

When I was 15 years old I founded my own non-profit organization around mental health policy change and awareness. When I was eight my brother attempted suicide. Throughout my childhood, my family struggled with depression and substance abuse. Through high school, I remained hopeful; I failed classes but worked on what I cared about and it led me to work with global organizations like the UN, WHO, The Gates Foundation, and CitiesRISE. In my work and life, I learned that there are billions of people out there trying to help. But, what really matters is the number of people who are willing to listen. I run a research initiative called YLG (youth lead globally) and we listen. We listen and research how mental health is defined across the world. I'm currently 19 and a freshman at Cornell University.