By Our Reporter
Oluwadamilola Akintewe, a Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2021 top 10 finalist from Nigeria, will play a key role in the inaugural Student Mental Health Week, it was announced today. She is a founder of Forbidden Topics, a Facebook platform aiming to break the silence on social injustices such as sexual assault and give women a voice in the community. She has also launched programs in her home state, Ondo, such as LetGirlsLead, which provides mentorship and support for secondary school girls, and Project Rebirth, using entrepreneurial action to deliver financial equality and inclusion for low-income women in the state.
The inaugural global initiative, taking place February 6-12, 2023, is being organized by Chegg, the leading student-first online learning company, in collaboration with five esteemed non-profits: Born This Way Foundation, launched and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, which supports youth mental health; the Jed Foundation (JED), which protects emotional wellbeing and prevents suicide for teens and young adults; the Inspiring Children Foundation, co-chaired by American singer-songwriter Jewel, which runs programs to nurture young people’s mental, emotional, and physical health; Young Invincibles, which leads advocacy efforts centered on improving the lives of young adults and increasing their access to mental health services; and the Varkey Foundation, which looks to improve the quality education for every child by building the status of teachers around the world.
During the week, Oluwadamilola and her team at the Forbidden Topics initiative will launch a series of videos centered around student mental health, posted on Forbidden Topics’ Instagram account. Through these videos, Oluwadamilola will encourage Nigerian students to have open conversations about their mental health, and share their experiences and accessible resources.
Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2021 top 10 finalist Oluwadamilola Akintewe said, “Thank you to Chegg and everyone involved in creating this campaign. Forbidden Topics has always been about giving young people a voice, and encouraging them to seek help when they need it. We are proud to be taking part in the inaugural Student Mental Health Week, and hope to help create a safe space for students to discuss their mental health.”
“We are proud to launch Student Mental Health Week, and hope to put this issue right at the top of the policy agenda,” said Dan Rosensweig, CEO and President of Chegg. “Students around the world face a perfect storm of different challenges – from learning in the aftermath of the pandemic, rising debt levels,1 and now global economic uncertainity.2 Through this campaign, we want to continue our commitment to holistically supporting students, so that they can make the most of their education, their relationships, and their ability to face the future with confidence.”
The global campaign seeks to destigmatize mental health among students, encourage young people to be intentional about looking after themselves, and inspire conversations around what policymakers, education institutions, the wider community, parents, and learners themselves can do to support student mental wellness.