Marena Beale is a senior Social Work major at the University of New England, where she also minors in Public Health and Mental Health Rehabilitation. She currently serves as the Undergraduate Student Government President, leading student advocacy initiatives and working to improve the campus experience through collaboration, service, and leadership.
Marena has been a passionate mental health advocate since middle school, transforming her own lived experiences into a lifelong commitment to supporting others. After overcoming her own personal mental health challenges as a young teen, she discovered the power of connection, advocacy, education, and hope. Today, she is dedicated to ensuring that young people know they are never alone and that asking for help is a sign of strength.
Beyond campus, Marena serves as a member of NAMI New Hampshire’s NextGen Advisory Board, where she works alongside fellow young advocates to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, promote suicide prevention, and amplify youth voices in conversations about mental health policy and education. She is also a marketing intern with Parkhurst Dining, Student Org Manager, Presidential Ambassador, and a board member of other clubs and organizations on UNE’s campus.
Marena’s passion for advocacy extends into public speaking, where she enjoys sharing her story to inspire resilience, encourage authentic conversations about mental health, and empower others to create positive change within their communities.
Following graduation, Marena plans to pursue her Master of Social Work and become a middle school crisis counselor, helping young people navigate life’s challenges and ensuring every student feels seen, heard, and supported.
Marena is a trained NAMI Smarts Educator and ready to lead advocacy trainings.
If you would like to learn more about Marena and other NAMI New Hampshire Youth Voices Speakers, please reach out to Deb Jurkoic at djurkoic@naminh.org
