Yaazana Kannan

Being part of the YPAG for the past 2 years has been an invaluable experience. Whether it was creating a collage or speaking on a podcast, the meetings had allowed me to collaborate with such a diverse set of individuals and really led me to widen my perspectives. It was an amazing opportunity getting to work alongside researchers and contribute to the much-needed discussion on youth mental health. This experience had also greatly impacted me as a young person navigating big life changes. With starting my A-Levels and going off to university being such large transitions in my life, the project had been a great form of connection and stress relief. Changing from an unsure and anxious teenager to a now confident and open-minded young adult has been greatly due to the YPAG allowing me to converse and build relationships with new people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. Getting to be part of this project has been unforgettable and I am so incredibly grateful that my voice was heard. I am proud to have contributed to helping shape how we deal with youth mental health in the future.