S8 Ep2: Youth Voices: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health

For many South Asian families, we talk openly about education, success, and responsibility—but conversations about anxiety, depression, and mental health often remain unspoken.

In this episode, we explore the mental health of South Asian youth and the power of youth activism with Sarah Shelke, a UC Berkeley student and founder of Mind4Youth, one of the world’s largest youth-led mental health nonprofits.

When young people speak up, challenge stigma, and create space for honest conversations, change becomes possible.

🎧 Tune in to Between Friends – Conversations with Maitri and join the conversation.

Let’s make mental health a conversation, not a silence.

Host: Nandini Ray, Sr. Manager, Outreach, Prevention & Policy Advocacy, Maitri. (E) nandini@maitri.org | Visit: www.maitri.org

About Sarah: Sarah Shelke is an Indian American mental health advocate working to make mental health care accessible for youth worldwide. After navigating a family member’s struggle with depression at 13, Sarah founded the nonprofit Mind4Youth to expand access to free mental health support, therapy access, and educational resources for teens globally. Since then, Sarah has spoken to members of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, advocated for health legislation on Capitol Hill, and supported legislation introduced in the Virginia State Legislature. For her work, Sarah was named to the inaugural TIME Visionaries list and was a 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize Top 3 Finalist. Visit: https://mind4youth.com/