We’re students, volunteers, and neighbors who believe mental health support should be easy to find and free of judgment. Here’s the team behind The STAY Project.
Shreenithi Sarvaghan
Website Coordinator
Hi, I’m the Website Coordinator for The STAY Project. I joined STAY because mental health is something that has personally impacted my life and the lives of many students around me. Throughout high school, I’ve had my fair share of difficult moments, times where I felt overwhelmed, and challenges that came with trying to balance expectations, responsibilities, and my own well-being. Those experiences helped me understand how important it is to have honest conversations about mental health and to break the stigma that makes people feel like they have to struggle alone. As I begin my junior year, I want to use my experiences to help create a space where young people feel heard, supported, and comfortable being themselves. Through my role as Website Coordinator, I help maintain and share STAY’s online presence while supporting the organization’s mission.
Iris Wang
Social Media Coordinator
I am Iris Wang and will be a junior at Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. I joined the STAY Project because I saw being part of the team as an opportunity for me to take a more active stance of advocacy in regards to mental health. I am part of the social media team and help produce the reels. In my free time I like sports and exercise. I also love painting, mingei-styled ceramics, fashion, dance, and am currently struggling to learn Blender. I am interested in mental health because I am surrounded by my peers who have struggles relating to their mental health and wish to be a source of support for them and the people who share those struggles. Please support our mission of making mental health less taboo and more accessible to our community!
Ananya Mittal
Toolkit Coordinator
Hi! I’m Ananya Mittal, and I’m one of the Toolkit Coordinators at STAY, where I help develop accessible mental health resources designed to support people through difficult moments. I joined STAY because I believe everyone deserves access to practical, approachable tools that can make seeking help feel less overwhelming. Mental health is something that affects everyone, whether directly or through the people around them. I’m passionate about increasing awareness and creating resources that are both informative and useful. Through STAY, I hope to help make mental health support more accessible and encourage conversations that remind people they are not alone. Outside of STAY, I enjoy robotics, photography, art, and engineering. I’m excited to be part of a team working to make a meaningful impact in our communities.
Hala Elhelou
External Affairs Coordinator
My name is Hala Elhelou, and I’m a high school student who joined The STAY Project because I believe mental health is just as important as physical health and that everyone deserves access to support, understanding, and resources. As a student-athlete and aspiring physician, I’ve seen how mental wellbeing can influence every part of a person’s life. Through STAY, I hope to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging open conversations and promoting awareness. As the External Affairs Coordinator, I build meaningful partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community members to expand our outreach, strengthen our impact, and help connect more people with the resources and support they deserve.
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