Hi! We are Liana Brown and Khloe Fenster, high school students at Byram Hills High School. For our Global Scholars Changemaker project, we are focusing on combating society’s stigma surrounding mental health struggles in teenagers. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teenagers, and 1 in 5 teens from 11-17 are living with a mental disorder. As the years go on, mental illnesses become more common among teens due to the fear that opening up is seen as weak and attention-seeking. For our solution, we want to normalize the existence of mental health struggles. Our solution consists of three parts. First is speaking with the Challenge Success Club at our school, a group of parents, teachers, and students who work together to reduce stress among our student body. We also want to create a presentation to share this knowledge with a few high schools in Westchester or NYC. Our final part of our solution is to create a wellness basket-making event in Westchester, where teens can learn about mental health while making baskets to give to kids at the Cottage School, a school that helps kids who struggle with emotional or behavioral issues. We are requesting funding for our event’s venue, food, and basket contents. Remember, a broken mind hurts as deeply as a broken bone. No teen should feel alone in their struggle. It’s time we listen, we act, and we prove that every mind matters.