“POD helped me to form ideas, get into active change and make the connections I needed to launch my petition.” Lucy says it helped her share her own experience in a way that could challenge people's ideas and stereotypes.
Lucy’s petition calling for better mental health education in high schools reached its target of 10,000 signatures.
The petition’s been presented to Parliament and Lucy’s become a strong voice for youth and mental health advocacy.
“I still find it weird that I have been on the news… I find it absolutely mad but it’s so exciting.
“I’ll keep working to get the petition’s legislative changes and if the Government says yes to more mental health education in schools, then I would like to help develop the curriculum.”
From POD to the steps of Parliament
A year after Lucy McSweeney took part in the MHF's social change programme POD, she was taking her petition to Parliament
Lucy McSweeney, a 21-year-old Auckland engineering student, knew she wanted to use her own experience with depression and anxiety to help young people.
“I had such a challenging time with mental health as I transitioned between high school and university. I thought if I could use my experience to help others, it would make it all worth it.”
But Lucy was stuck on turning her ideas into action. Then she signed up to the Mental Health Foundation's former Point of Difference programme that’s aimed at empowering young people to end mental health discrimination.
But Lucy was stuck on turning her ideas into action. Then she signed up to the Mental Health Foundation's former Point of Difference programme that’s aimed at empowering young people to end mental health discrimination.
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