Young Leaders Council
about the council
MHA's Young Leaders Council (YLC) is made up of young people (18-25) who have created programs and initiatives to fill gaps in mental health support and resources in their communities. Each year, 10 leaders are selected and participate in this six-month leadership development program.
reports
Each YLC cohort authors an annual youth mental health report. Report topics are informed by the group's interests and drawn from their collective knowledge.
Within these reports, members document youth perspectives, offer recommendations, and inspire youth-centered solutions to the mental health crisis.
alumni
We're proud to call YLC graduates our colleagues, encompassing a wide range of specialties both inside and outside of the field of mental health.
Graduates have gone on to earn leadership positions in the public and private sectors, including at Google, UNICEF, the National Academies of Sciences, and the White House.
why join?
"I found community. I found hope. I found young people that care deeply. The [YMHLC] is an awesome space to share ideas, connect, and meet incredible youth activists doing groundbreaking work in the field of mental health."
Anthony Sartori, 2021-2022 YMHLC member
"This was a life- and career-changing program. Personally, it introduced me to some of the most incredible youth leaders around the world that validated, supported, and challenged me. Professionally it gave us the opportunity to be recognized and supported by a legendary mental health org."
Mahmoud Khedr, 2021-2022 YMHLC member
"Being a part of the YMHLC cohort opened the door to countless opportunities to engage with some of the most inspiring, passionate, humble, and driven people out there. You learn a lot from them, and you walk away from each meeting with fresh ideas."
Claire Yu, 2020-2021 YMHLC member
As the 2023 undergraduate winner, Jose has dedicated himself to giving everyone in his community a chance to talk openly about their journeys with mental health.
As a college athlete, Marcus Alston realized that there wasn’t a support network for coaches and players to deal with mental health issues. So he started one.
Youth take charge to improve mental health and housing pressure
“It’s not just housing. It’s investing in the whole human and not just the body on the sidewalk.”
get in touch
Interested in learning more about our youth programs?
Contact jmenjivar@mhanational.org