With teen mental health challenges reaching alarming levels nationwide, one local student is stepping up to tackle the crisis—not by waiting until high school, but by starting where it matters most: in early childhood. Nysha Prasad, a high school student and longtime Girl Scout, has launched an innovative initiative through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Mind Matters, aimed at making mental wellness tools accessible to the youngest members of her community. Recently, Nysha received a grant to fund the creation and distribution of over 100 custom-designed mental health care kits for students at Wilton Place Elementary School in Los Angeles.

These Mind Matters kits are thoughtfully curated to introduce elementary-aged children to the basics of emotional well-being. Each one includes sensory tools to help with self-soothing, age-appropriate mindfulness activities, self-care items, and—perhaps most meaningfully—handwritten letters from local high school students. These letters are intended to foster connection, empathy, and emotional validation, reminding children that their feelings are real and that they are not alone.

“We teach kids how to stay physically healthy from a young age - why not teach them how to take care of their minds too?” said Nysha. “Adolescence is when coping skills should be nurtured. These care kits are a fun, approachable way to start those conversations early.”

Grant-Funded Mental Wellness Initiative

The grant Nysha received has allowed her to go beyond a small-scale gesture. Each Mind Matters kit is packed with intentional resources to support emotional regulation and build early coping skills. Items include fidget and sensory toys to help manage stress, guided breathing and grounding exercises for moments of anxiety, and a set of colorful, kid-friendly affirmation cards designed to encourage confidence and self-awareness.

What makes these kits particularly special is the community connection they foster. Every kit contains a personal letter written by a high school student—a peer mentor of sorts—offering words of encouragement, sharing simple tips for managing big feelings, and reassuring younger students that it’s okay to ask for help. These letters have become a cornerstone of the project, bridging the gap between generations and nurturing a sense of solidarity in mental health awareness.

“I wanted younger kids to know that even the ‘big kids’ go through hard times, and that it's normal,” Nysha explained. “If we can help them understand that emotions are something everyone experiences and can learn to manage, we’re setting them up for lifelong emotional resilience.”

About Mind Matters: A Youth-Led Mental Health Advocacy Project

Mind Matters is not just a one-time effort—it’s an expanding youth-led mental health advocacy project with a mission to create spaces where emotional wellness is prioritized, talked about, and supported. What started as Nysha’s Gold Award project has grown into a larger platform for mental health education, advocacy, and outreach. The project includes a regularly updated blog featuring articles written by teen contributors on topics like anxiety, academic stress, peer pressure, mindfulness, and self-care. By sharing personal stories and practical tools, the blog gives voice to a generation navigating complex emotional terrain.

In partnership with youth podcast organization Connectopod, Nysha has also launched the Mind Matters Podcast, where she interviews mental health professionals, educators, and fellow teens to explore topics like stress management, meditation, and emotional literacy in a format that’s both educational and relatable. The podcast aims to break down the stigma around mental health by making these conversations accessible and youth-driven.

“Adolescence is when we should be learning how to handle stress, build emotional intelligence, and reach out for help—but too often, we’re left to figure it out on our own, or worse, we don't talk about it until there's a crisis,” said Nysha. “Through Mind Matters, I want to change that. If we start these conversations early and often, mental health can become just another part of what it means to grow up healthy and strong.”

Get Involved

Nysha’s efforts have already made a meaningful impact in her local community, and she’s hopeful others will be inspired to join the movement. Whether it’s by contributing to the Mind Matters blog, volunteering to write a letter for a future care kit, or simply starting a conversation about mental health at home or school, Nysha believes that every small action can help build a more supportive world for young people.

To learn more about Mind Matters, explore resources, or find out how to get involved, visit mindmattersteens.com or contact teenmindsmatters@gmail.com.