Meet the 2026 Suicide Prevention Youth Leadership Group

Lex is a rising senior in high school who enjoys dancing and baking. He is also an active member of his temple and is a leader in the temple youth community. Lex is a cofounder and president of his school's chapter of students demand action, a grassroots gun violence prevention organization. He likes playing with his dog, going on walks, and spending quality time with friends and family.   

Daniel is 17 years old. As a young Mexican American and a member of the Youth Leadership Group (YLG) he tries his best to bring his cultural perspective and experiences to the mental health field. 

Taanvi is a 17-year-old Irish-born changemaker with Indian roots, now based in Washington—an award-winning social entrepreneur, youth mental health advocate, global keynote speaker, a national leader in youth mental health innovation, and founder/president of the nonprofit, Uplift Teens Today. She is an international bestselling author of "Uplift Teens Today," the first teen-to-teen mental health book, and creator of the Emotion Cards Deck, an interactive tool for emotional literacy used by students and professionals alike. As part of her nonprofit, she launched Nexus: Mental Health Hub for Schools & Communities ([http://www.nexusforschools.com)— which has reached over 1M+ students across 50 states and internationally. Inspired by her early struggles with anxiety and isolation as an Irish Indian immigrant, she turned personal pain into purpose—committing to reach 80+ million students worldwide. Her work has been nationally recognized with honors such as the Google Most Innovative Award, the NAMI Youth Award, the Civil Champion Award, the Washington PTA Outstanding Student Advocate Award, the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, the C.P. Dorothy Johnson Humanitarian Award, and the Washington Health Care Authority Prevention Award. She serves on the board of NAMI and functions as a mental health youth advisor to Harvard Medical Center, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Wellness Lab, Macy’s, OSPI, and works closely with the Washington Health Care Authority. She has been featured by major news networks and publications, and her advocacy goes beyond awareness, creating systems change and saving lives. She is co-researching with the University of Colorado Boulder and The Crown Institute. From building transformative tools to shaping mental health policy, she is working to ensure no student ever feels alone again.   

Alex is a high school senior from Tennessee, who is enthusiastic about leadership, service, music, and technology. He serves as Drum Major for his school's marching band and has several years of experience in live audio engineering, supporting worship services, theater productions, concerts, and community events. In addition to his involvement in the performing arts, Alex is a member of the Tennessee Department of Health Youth advisory council, and American Academy of Pediatrics Youth Leadership Group where he enjoys collaborating with other youth leaders to advocate for healthier communities and make a positive impact across the state and nation. After graduation, Alex plans to pursue a career in audio engineering and live production while continuing to use his skills to serve others. He believes that leadership is about creating opportunities, building meaningful connections, and making a lasting difference in the lives of those around him.  

Hannah is from the Bay Area, California. She is a high school senior. She is passionate about psychology, public policy, and advocating for youth mental health. At school, she is involved in parliamentary debate and student council, where she serves as the academic representative. Outside of school, you will usually find her exploring new food spots or curled up with a good book.  

Bronwyn is an eighteen-year-old mental health advocate from Kansas who currently calls central New Jersey her home. She is a rising first-year at the University of Pennsylvania looking to study psychology in the clinical and developmental spheres. As a member of Mental Health America’s Expanding Impact Network and the AAP’s Youth Leadership Group on Youth Suicide Prevention and the Family Partnerships Network Executive Committee, she works to create clinical and educational spaces where young people can thrive by sharing their authentic voices with the world! 

Eli is a high school senior from Seattle, Washington who is also pursuing an Associate of Arts & Sciences through dual enrollment. He is passionate about technology, medicine, and youth advocacy and participates in DECA chapter leadership and the National Honor Society. After high school, Eli plans to study biology and eventually attend medical school, with the goal of becoming a physician. Eli is passionate about improving youth mental health and has been involved in suicide prevention and mental health advocacy through the American Academy of Pediatrics Youth Leadership Group on Suicide Prevention and peer-to-peer initiatives in his school community. He is especially interested in making sure young people have a meaningful voice in the programs, resources, and decisions that affect them. Outside of advocacy and school, Eli enjoys photography, technology, and spending time with friends.  

Addie Weidner is a junior in high school! She loves volleyball, track, speech, science, and theater! She also enjoys spending time with kids and hopes to be a pediatric surgeon in the future. She strives to advocate for young people who are too scared to use their voice, or struggle to start the conversation about their mental health. Being in the AAP has helped her to make a positive impact, build new connections, and share her story with others!

Charlotte is a high school sophomore from rural Missouri who enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, baking new recipes, and volunteering in her community. She is active in her school as a varsity cheerleader, marching and concert band member, FFA Parliamentarian, and member of FCCLA and FBLA. Outside of school, Charlotte serves as President of her local 4-H club and enjoys being involved in agricultural opportunities and working on her family’s farm. Through her involvement in the Youth Suicide Council, Charlotte hopes to use her voice and experiences to help create awareness, encourage open conversations, and remind young people that they are never alone. She is enthusiastic about making a positive difference in her community and encouraging others to support and look out for one another.