The mental health epidemic is a commonly used term that describes the unprecedented increase in mental health issues among the youth. However, as more issues surrounding mental health surface, so does the stigma surrounding it. While this stigma can be seen everywhere, it is especially prevalent among marginalized communities. The Youth Equity Project, a student-led organization, focuses on the destigmatization of mental health amongst youth groups and marginalized communities.

Based in Eden Prairie, The Youth Equity Project more commonly known as YEP works hard to take their own experiences and apply them to their actions. “We noticed a lot of stigma surrounding mental health amongst our communities in school, and also amongst our own cultures,” said co-founder Aadya Pandey. YEP works with different school districts and school boards to bring student input into well-being committees with the intent to voice student’s concerns about mental health. YEP is also working to start as a chapter system to focus on other states and increase awareness for mental health nationally. 

“I achieve happiness in knowing that I am proving and raising awareness of mental health.”

– Sujaiyaa Sivakumar, ’25

Currently, YEP is working with local legislators and community leaders to work on enacting policies and bills. A few bills YEP plans to push for include bills based on expanding mental health screening, and the mental health curriculum. YEP also offers students a gateway to get involved in promoting different mental health issues through various mediums such as blog posts and social media posts.

Despite being a national organization, YEP ultimately focuses and relies on the people. “I achieve happiness in knowing that I am providing and raising awareness of mental health,” said Sujaiyaa Sivakumar, a team member at YEP.

All in all, YEP is a rapidly rising organization advocating for the awareness of mental health, and the changes they hope to achieve are ground-breaking.