Empowering Teens: Taanvi Arekapudi Discusses Youth Mental Health Advocacy
Photos by Jordan Somers
On a recent episode of The Day with Trae, guest host Deaunte Damper filled in for host Trae Holiday to interview Taanvi Arekapudi, a 15-year-old social entrepreneur, international bestselling author, and youth mental health advocate. At such a young age, Taanvi has already made a significant impact through her advocacy work and her book, "Uplift Teens Today." The interview delved into her inspiring journey, mental health initiatives, and her vision to create better support systems for youth mental health.
Taanvi shared her early experiences of moving from Dublin, Ireland, to Seattle at the age of nine. The transition was overwhelming as she navigated a new culture and school environment, grappling with feelings of anxiety and loneliness. She recounted how these emotions were masked by a forced smile until she finally opened up to her family. Their response, "You're not alone," became a pivotal moment in Taanvi's life, inspiring her to explore mindfulness and other strategies to cope with difficult emotions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taanvi noticed her friends were also struggling with their mental health, which sparked her idea to create the Teen Empowerment Club. This club provided a safe space for teens to openly discuss their challenges and share strategies, creating a supportive community where youth could connect and feel less isolated. This endeavor laid the foundation for her to write Uplift Teens Today, a book she started at age 12 and published at 13. The book shares her personal journey and provides practical strategies for managing various challenges, from friendship issues to academic stress, aiming to help readers understand they are not alone and that there are effective tools to cope with their emotions.
Taanvi also introduced her emotion card deck, a tool she developed to help people identify their emotions and apply specific strategies to manage them. This interactive tool, which started as a personal project at age nine, has now become a valuable resource used by schools and families to foster open conversations about emotions and mental health.
Expanding on her commitment to youth mental health, Taanvi talked about her latest initiative, Nexus. Nexus is a mental health hub designed specifically for schools, providing 24/7 access to resources such as peer stories, connections, and support tools. With this platform, Taanvi aims to address the barriers youth face in accessing mental health support, including stigma, cost, and the overwhelming number of resources available online.
To get involved with Nexus or learn more about her work, Taanvi encouraged listeners to follow her on Instagram at @taanvis.inspiration.
To see more guests like Taanvi, tune in with Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
