Bring Change to Mind (BC2M)’s Post

From June 1 to 5, I had the privilege of being an ambassador for Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) at the World Psychiatric Association's 2024 "Together Against Stigma" Conference in Iceland. Along with five fellow student ambassadors, we presented our experiences dealing with and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health within our communities- whether in a cultural, academic, or personal context. We spoke to the student experience in relation to battling mental health obstacles including academic burnout and peer comparison, while also being confronted by the intense stigma surrounding mental health. As students, we tend to internalize and perpetuate this stigma on a subconscious level, hindering our personal growth. We should all aim to take steps towards dismantling the stigma within ourselves and our peers, which was one of the overarching themes of our presentations last week. Huge, huge thank you to Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) for this incredible opportunity!