Girl, 15, turns bullying ordeal into mental health initiative for others
A 17-year-old student, Aanya Mukherjee, has launched a mental health initiative after overcoming a personal history of bullying in school. Her story serves as a call to action for parents to recognize the subtle, non-physical forms of bullying that impact student well-being.
Why it matters
It highlights the critical need for better mental health support systems in schools and the importance of addressing social exclusion as a form of bullying.
For many teenagers, school is more than a place to attend classes. It is where they build friendships, discover who they are and begin to understand where they belong. But when bullying enters that space, it can affect much more than a child's experience of school. It can shake their confidence, affect their mental health and leave them feeling isolated, even when they are surrounded by people.For 17-year-old Aanya Mukherjee from California, this was not just a possibility. It was something she experienced herself. What makes her story particularly relevant for parents is what she chose to do afterwards: she started working towards making mental health support more accessible to other teenagers, while ensuring young people have a voice in conversations about their well-being.In an interview with People, Aanya recalled how alone she felt during the period when she was being bullied.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in