“At age 16, Kyra became a Mental Health Advocate in hopes of becoming a Mental Health Therapist. Johnson created All Things Mental, a network that provides free mental resources for under-resourced communities. In addition, Johnson is a writer and author, working on her forthcoming mental health book & guidebook to help people deal with various mental health disorders. Johnson is passionate about mental health due to her own personal journey. Kyra is now a Senior Child Psychology major at University of Missouri- St. Louis & is currently working with Hazelwood School District. As a Collegiate Mental Health Innovation Council member, Kyra will always advocate for providing the best quality mental health services for people."

“I think it’s important to offer a perspective from experience of mental health or witnessing someone close to you firsthand with those struggles because you know what it is like, and you are more aware of the issues that affect your society, inner circle, or the world around you. When looking to move towards change, it’s also important to have individuals who are diverse in experiences, individuality, culture, identity, etc. I feel that as someone who also has immigrant parents and grew up with a separate cultural dynamic than the American one I hold, I can offer insights into cultural issues that influence mental and physical health as well.”

“Even though mental health struggles are prevalent, there is still a lack of understanding and conversation about mental health. I want to create an environment at my college and ultimately in the greater St. Louis area where students are comfortable sharing their mental health struggles. Serving on this council will allow me to hear the voices of other student mental health advocates. Together we can reduce the stigma around mental illness, foster connections between colleges, and ultimately create positive change in mental health promotion in the St. Louis area.”

Zack Diebold is a freshman at Saint Louis University studying Computer Science and Economics and is the Executive Director of Find the Light Foundation. Find the Light is a St. Louis based student-led non-profit that works to promote the mental health and well-being of youth and young adults by providing accessible resources, support, and education. Zack became involved in mental health in 2020, and his dedication to the field has only grown since. He developed the Resource Portal and Local Resources websites and hopes to grow the foundation into a national leader in mental health resource accessibility. In his free, Zack enjoys photography, audio engineering, hiking, and musical theatre. He is excited to work with the Collegiate Council to improve the perception and climate of mental health at colleges.