Isha Mehrotra

Isha Mehrotra attends high school in Redmond, Washington. 

As identified nationally, the most significant problem facing youth today is mental health struggles. Studies have shown that now more than ever, teens everywhere are struggling immensely with mental health, and a study conducted by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction reveals that “among Washington students in grade 12, 74% reported feeling nervous or anxious in the prior two weeks.” Youth that struggle with mental health and are left untreated suffer from lower education rates and crushing behavioral impacts. Good mental health is a necessary human right, and laws should be in place to ensure all those who are struggling are provided with the care that they require and deserve. From personal experience, I understand how isolating mental health struggles are, and I aim to develop a project that aids mental health struggles in youth by raising awareness and accentuating the positive impact of the arts on mental health, fostering a beloved community for all. I myself am an incredibly creative individual,and in times of struggle, I have found solace in crafting, allowing myself to free my mind of any burdening thoughts and take time out to create something I’m proud of. To establish this project and accomplish my goal, I plan to host workshops at my local library for teens, presenting research I have done and spreading the importance of dismantling stigma around the topic of mental health and also leaving time at the end to take time to craft or practice an art that brings them joy, further restating the importance being cognizant of our emotions and finding ways to manage and deescalate them before they bring harm. My workshop would weave in the principles of Kingian non-violence, aiming to help further internalize peace and justice. As my project garners more attention, I would hope to upscale it, working with my local government to campaign further on the issue of mental health, as policies must also be put in place to combat the ongoing mental health pandemic.