Neolth's Student Mental Health Ambassador program is honored to host a community of over 100 student leaders from around the world. In thanks for their hard work during the Spring 2023 semester, we're featuring a few of our most dedicated Ambassadors from Heriot-Watt University in Dubai, UAE.
Meet Ananya (she/her), a BSc Psychology student!
Ananya hopes to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology. She's worked with Neolth to expand her understanding of mental health and work to help students at her university learn more, as well. In addition to her work at Neolth, she's pursued other internships in the field of psychology and is a dedicated student leader on her campus.
When asked if she had any advice for students, she said:
"If I could give students one piece of advice it would be to trust yourself."
Meet Mayookha (she/her), BSc Psychology student!
Mayookha hopes to pursue a career in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. She is currently involved with The Special Needs Future Development Centre in Dubai as a volunteer, helping young adults with special needs to become self-reliant. At Neolth, she's a member of the Body Positivity subcommittee, working on projects related to body positivity, body image, and eating disorders.
When asked about her experience at Neolth and if she had any advice for students, she said: "I firmly believe that being an ambassador at Neolth has provided me with an incredible opportunity to advocate about mental health and its relevance currently within the student community. Further, being a student myself, this position has enabled me to carry out the required tasks with a personalized approach. My advice to students would be, academics shouldn't be pursued at the cost of losing yourself in the process. Striking a good balance between academic growth and discovering your identity alongside personal growth is the ideal."
Meet Suhani (she/her), 2nd year BSc Psychology student!
Suhani hopes to become a Forensic Psychologist, and also has an interest in animal behavior. Outside of Neolth, she participates in the Psychology Society on campus and spends her free time writing poetry and painting (see more on her blog, "Teen Under Construction").
When asked about her experience at Neolth and if she had any advice for students, she said: "I believe that Neolth brings a platform for talking about and reducing stigma associated with mental health, and being an ambassador helps further the cause that Neolth believes in. As a student myself, I'd just want to tell my peers that there's no need to rush into anything, just do things at your own pace. Just trust the process and have faith in yourself."
Meet Irha (she/her), BSc Honors Psychology student!
Irha plans to continue her education to earn a Master's degree in Neuropsychiatry and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, eventually pursuing a career as a Clinical Psychologist and researcher. She is an active student leader as the Events Co-Lead for Heriot-Watt's Psychology Society, intern leader at TherapHeal, and Lead Ambassador here at Neolth. Irha created and led the Career Support subcommittee, supporting students in Dubai with their career journey.
When asked about her experience at Neolth, she said: "The Ambassador program offered a valuable platform for students to not just receive support—but actively advocate for it too. In places where a lot of impact is required, that can really turn the tide. I saw an opportunity to create change; it was an excellent resource."
When asked if she had any advice for students, she said: "Write. It is the strongest weapon you have; it grants you independency, not just from everyone around you, but from the web of your thoughts too."
Meet Rasha (she/her), 2nd year BSc Psychology student!
Rasha hopes to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology to make a positive impact on individuals, helping people to lead happier, healthier lives. Rasha is a member of the Career Support subcommittee at Neolth, and was recognized by her peers with the Gold Star Award. This award is given to the students who have constantly given 110% in the Ambassador Program.
Rasha joined the ambassador program because: "I wanted to use my platform as a Student Ambassador for Neolth to raise awareness about various mental health issues and provide support to students who may be struggling. I am passionate about destigmatizing mental health and believe that advocacy is crucial to achieving that goal."
When asked why she's passionate about mental health, she said: "I am passionate about mental health because I believe it plays a vital role in the overall wellbeing that impacts not just individuals, but also families and society as a whole. I believe that when people are mentally healthy, they can live happier, more fulfilling lives, which has a positive ripple effect on those around them. I strongly believe that mental health should be given the same level of attention as physical health, and that everyone who is struggling deserves the help and support they need. "
Meet Amisha (she/her), BSc Psychology student!
Amisha is exploring a career in psychology, hoping to help people lead better lives and improve mental health issues. She was also a part of the Career Support subcommittee, helping with numerous on-campus events and helping students explore opportunities in the psychology field.
"I joined the ambassador program because I believed it is an excellent opportunity for me as a Psychology major to expand my horizons and and a good experience. It helped me take the initiative to connect with more people and improve my network as well as my knowledge of mental health and communication."
When asked what she thought the most pressing mental health issues for students right now are, she said: "academic stress that may be coupled with the requirements of self-sufficiency and moving away from home. A majority of students struggle with burnout and the inability to gain support for their mental health struggles."
Meet Anushka (she/her), 2nd year Psychology student!
Anushka also hopes to become a Forensic Psychologist, joining the Ambassador Program as a step on that path. She wants to make a difference in others' lives by spreading awareness about mental health.
When asked why she's passionate about mental health, she said: "I'm passionate about mental health only because of my experience with it in the past and knowing how it can have an effect in the welling and other daily activities in personal life. I want to reduce the stigma around mental health by helping others and making them heard and seen."
Meet Shivaani (she/her), 2nd year Honors Psychology student!
Shivaani hopes to pursue a career in either Clinical or Forensic Psychology and research. She seeks to make a difference in others' lives and break down the stigma around mental health.
When asked why she's passionate about mental health, she said: "Mental health is HIGHLY stigmatized, if people cared about mental wellbeing as they did for any small cold the world could've been nicer. Right now it's hard to ignore the rise of mental health awareness. I personally had to wait 6 years to get a session myself. I can empathize with individuals due to personal experiences, I enjoy helping people, I'm compassionate and creative/innovative, plus I am passionate as it is crucial in todays world. With more people aware of the importance, it could benefit healthcare overall."
We are so proud to work with this exceptional group of students as part of our Ambassador Program. They have been integral in furthering our mission of expanding access to mental health services to students everywhere, bringing Neolth to Heriot-Watt University and Dubai. Thank you, Ambassadors, for all that you do!
