NAMI Next Gen NH is a unique opportunity for Granite Staters, ages 18–25, who are passionate about mental health to gain practical advocacy skills and knowledge, share their stories and be leaders in action. NNG Ambassadors will have unparalleled access to resources and opportunities for engagement, including key statewide events such as This Is My Brave and the NAMI NH Annual Conference, allowing them to connect with a wider network of mental health advocates and leaders. Through their work, NNG Ambassadors will actively work to reduce stigma, promote empathy, and act for mental health.
NAMI NH is pleased to introduce the fantastic group of young adults who will be serving as NNG Ambassadors over the next several months!
Delaney serves as a Campus Captain with The Hidden Opponent (THO), a non-profit focused on mental health in athletics, as well as the Mental Health Liaison for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
As a leader in mental health advocacy for youth and young adults, Delaney developed and facilitated a mental health panel while in high school, and is passionate about promoting mental health trainings in her community.
When Delaney isn’t in advocacy mode, she can be found soaking up books and swinging away on the golf course. She is determined to eliminate the stigma around asking for help and will pick up the phone at any hour if someone needs her.
Derin is an executive member of the NAMI On Campus Club at UNH, and has recently attended NAMI NH’s It’s Your Move advocacy training and presented at a NAMI NH Volunteer Meeting. She brings her passion to tabling events and club meetings and is ready to confront any challenge, big or small, to move mental health advocacy forward within her community.
One of Derin’s earliest advocacy efforts arose when she saw that not all students felt welcome in the school cafeteria. Derin turned her attention towards building community and making the cafeteria a place for everyone to have a seat at the table.
In her spare time, Derin enjoys writing poetry and taking nature walks. Through art, writing, and advocacy, Derin is always finding ways to help others feel seen and find hope.
Erin has been advocating since fifteen, using public speaking, film, and storytelling to spark change. Her short film Dear Younger Me won multiple awards and has been featured at statewide conferences and government meetings. Erin has led top fundraising teams for NH nonprofits, raising over $26,000 in support of suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
Erin’s passion for mental health began with her own lived experience at age 13. That journey taught her that seeking help is not a weakness – it’s a courageous act.
Now a student studying Elementary Education, Erin aspires to work in special education and early emotional education. She aims to use her voice to help others feel proud of their healing and is committed to helping build a world where every young person knows they are never alone.
Since first sharing her mental health journey through Magnify Voices in 2018, Mia has become a passionate advocate for youth mental health. Her public speaking and community-building work across the Granite State has been recognized by various outlets including WMUR, the Union Leader, and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
Mia is studying Human Development and Family Science with a minor in Public Health. She brings lived experience, professional insight, and a deep understanding of how mental health evolves over time, especially for young people.
A proud New Englander and lifelong Boston Celtics fan, Mia believes in the power of youth voices to shape policy, build community, and spark change here in New Hampshire
Marena brings extensive advocacy experience to the mission to amplify youth voices. As a student studying social work and public and mental health, Marena brings lived experience, leadership, and creativity to every space she enters.
Since middle school, Marena has shared her personal story to help others feel less alone, including participating in Magnify Voices, leading a nonprofit, and serving as Vice President of student government and the chair of the academic affairs committee with a focus on mental health at her college.
Marena aims to shape a future where mental health conversations are met with compassion, understanding, and action.
Questions about NAMI Next Gen NH? Reach out to Deb Jurkoic at djurkoic@naminh.org
