Making the Mind Matter

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Samyukth Ayyar. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Samyukth Ayyar, 16, is a highly empathetic person, something that is evident through how he spends his time. His fascination with history has led him to volunteer with The Junior Historians, where he aids in historical preservation projects for Denton County, where he lives. He’s also a passionate classical choral singer who competes both individually and with his school’s choir. As part of the Dallas Symphony Chorus and Teen Council, he puts together musical events to inspire kids.

Put simply, Samyukth loves working with people and cares deeply for their wellbeing. After a bout with mental health challenges and recognizing the struggles of those around him, it was that abundance of empathy that led him to create Commit to Break the Stigma in 2022. Now, he advocates for good mental health practices and, as the name implies, ending the stigma surrounding the topic.

The $18,000 he has raised supports educational workshops, awareness campaigns and subsidized therapy access for those with limited resources. Workshops are often conducted in partnership with other groups like Boy Scouts of America and other school-based mental health clubs. And 200+ members from around the world actively assist with the mission. Sometimes, all it takes to change someone’s mental state is a friendly peer reaching out. With Samyukth around, they can count on that, along with a list of tried-and-true suggestions for bringing back their joy.

What inspires you to volunteer?

Volunteering is an opportunity for me to get involved in the community, while doing something I’m passionate about. Using what I’m good at to help the community inspires me to do good work and volunteer as much as I can.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

Mental health is a personal topic for me. I’ve dealt with issues in the past, and I see it within my family and friends. Historically, the importance of mental health has gone under-acknowledged. I wanted to spread awareness about how these issues can affect kids like me and shatter the stigma that surrounds the topic as a whole.

When we say “break the stigma,” we mean combating and dismantling these negative stereotypes, beliefs and attitudes that society holds about certain mental health conditions. We want to replace them with understanding, acceptance and empathy. We’re trying to challenge the negative connotation that the words “mental health condition” invokes that distinguishes them as something bad.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Commit to Break the Stigma.

I’m the president. I lead workshops with students, both locally and abroad. I went to India last summer and conducted workshops in Madurai and Bangalore, where I distributed mental health resources and talked about various issues that kids go through. The kids there didn’t even recognize some of the issues that kids in our society are dealing with, like stress. Once I explained those issues, they were able to talk about how they’ve experienced them in their daily lives. I also highlighted basic tips to feel better about themselves and develop positive wellbeing.

Outside of workshops, I also help manage the organization’s podcast and Instagram account. I help my officers, and I seek out opportunities to talk about or promote my organization.

What do you talk about on your podcast?

We discuss various mental health issues. I’m working to get a licensed therapist to come on and answer questions like, “Why does everything feel so overwhelming, even when I’m trying my best?” and, “How do I know if what I’m feeling is normal or is something I should be worried about?” I’m going to invite high school students to share their personal stories and eventually expand to discussions about things like depression, anxiety, ADHD and more, as well as tips for wellbeing.

Tell us about trying to establish an official Mental Health Day with the city.

As a high school student, I understand the stress that can develop in teens. The designated day would give both teens and adults in our city the opportunity to pause, reflect and prioritize their mental wellbeing. My goal is for residents experiencing higher levels of stress, burnout or anxiety to recognize that mental health matters, and that our community supports those struggling with these issues.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

It was a big step for me to talk to people within my cultural heritage who might not understand or have knowledge of the things I’ve learned as an Indian-American living in the US. I conducted workshops for over 275 kids, first through eighth grade, at a school in Madurai and about 100 kids in a school in Bangalore. It was enlightening and reminded me why I’m doing this.

I love working with people on mental health, historical preservation and singing. And I love using what I’m good at and the knowledge I’ve gained. I’ve learned that I want to continue to do so. I can see how much people have benefited from my work and how valuable it is to step out of your comfort zone to make an effort to change something about society.

What is one thing that people can do to prioritize their mental health every day?

For me, it’s journaling and writing down how I’m feeling, documenting my experiences and recognizing that it needs to be talked about. With one of the issues I went through freshman year, I held all the stress inside.

Now, when I finish the day, I practice gratitude or talk about my experiences. It helps me understand what I’m going through and how I can practice gratitude. Expressing gratitude is a way to combat stressful thought patterns. One way to do that is through journaling. To manage stress, understanding that it’s going to be okay and giving yourself positive self-talk or engaging in something you enjoy will also help you find a state of calm.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I want people to understand the importance of community and of using what they’re good at to help bring others together. It not only helps the community but you as an individual.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sam? Find local volunteer opportunities.