Meet Seika Brown

Seika Brown is an advocate and global mental health researcher and the founder of YLG Research, an initiative dedicated to unraveling the cultural intricacies of mental health across different societies. With a focus on preventive care, Seika is committed to understanding the cultural nuances influencing mental well-being.

Authenticity drives her work. At the age of 15, Seika founded a mental health policy non-profit organization, successfully lobbying and testifying for bills, including the passage of Washington State House Bill 1216 in 2019. Transitioning from the non-profit, she now supports various youth mental health programs and research initiatives.

Seika's impact extends globally; currently, she is a research assistant with the Karolinska Institute, serves on the National Youth Council on College Mental Health with the Marie Chrsite Institute, and is an advisor for NAMI’s (National Alliance on Mental Illness) new Trauma Awareness Training Program. In the past, she has served as a youth consultant for citiesRISE. She maintains positive relationships with UNICEF, The WHO, Mental Health America, Mental Health Europe, Johns Hopkins University, and others.

Recognized for her contributions, Seika has received awards from The Gates Foundation Discovery Center (2019), The Conversationalist (2020), Mental Health America (2021), and Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez (2023). Currently a senior at Cornell University, majoring in Urban and Regional Studies with a minor in Anthropology, Seika envisions a future in the public health field.

Despite accolades, her core motivation remains unchanged: advocating for the mental health of friends, family, and peers through authentic intergenerational relationships.