RHITISHAH YUVA RAJU
UNITED STATES, 18
Project: Mediora
Basic Human Needs: Education, Health
Time and time again, Rhitishah witnessed the tragic events of the stigmas surrounding mental health, especially in certain cultures and communities. Seeing friends and loved ones directly affected by these stigmas led her to question and challenge societal norms. In June 2017 Rhitishah founded Mediora – a global initiative promoting mental well-being through a research-based relaxation app, mentorship programs, community webinars, mental health curriculum and educational equity promoting initiatives. 25,000+ individuals and 26 universities in 16+ countries have used Mediora’s tools and resources. There are 5 youth-led Mediora chapters across the United States, Malaysia, India, Ireland and Australia, and they have partnered with global nonprofits, research conferences and renowned institutions to share resources and information. Rhitishah has been honored for her work in mental health by UCLA Brain Research Institute, Genius Olympiad and the American Psychological Association. She received the 2018 Grand Prize from ISEF and the first place Community Project in 2020 from the National Four Star Leadership Institute. In 2021, she hopes to collaborate with the United States Department of Education and mental health professionals to integrate the Mediora curriculum and app into schools nationwide. Rhitishah’s ultimate goal is to innovate, implement and educate in order to destigmatize mental health, make healthcare accessible to everyone and to uplift our communities.