Mind Out Loud’s 6th Annual FREE Online Student* Event
May 20, 2026 | 10 AM PDT
Uniting students (13+) to amplify their voices, champion mental wellness, and lead the way to a stronger future.
Join over 10,000 attendees nationwide!
*This event is intended for students 13 years or older. Guests of Mind Out Loud will be sharing their stories, which may include sensitive mental health topics such as suicide, depression, and anxiety.
Online - Accessible to students everywhere.
Featured Speakers
Max Stossel
Award-winning artist and Founder of Social Awakening: an organization dedicated to helping young people survive and thrive in the modern world.
Before working in this field, Max was a media strategist with an extensive background in social media. He ran social media for big brands, and later worked for a social media company.
He has spent the past 10 years speaking with over a million students, parents, and educators around the world about social media's impact on our lives, and creating resources to help manage that impact.
Zainab Okolo, Ed.D., LCMFT
Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy & Government Relations
The Jed Foundation
Dr. Zainab Okolo is a seasoned expert in higher education policy and mental health, dedicating her career to breaking down barriers for students, enabling them to thrive academically and lead fulfilling lives. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Government Relations at The Jed Foundation, she leverages her extensive experience to strengthen the organization's national and state-level presence.
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Dr. Okolo collaborates with external networks to advocate for increased federal, state, and local support for a comprehensive approach to mental health and suicide prevention. As a trauma informed, licensed mental health clinician, Dr. Okolo has provided crucial support to individuals, families, and institutions, emphasizing strategies to overcome stress and anxiety. With over a decade of professional experience in higher education research and student services, she remains a staunch advocate for increased and equitable access to high-quality mental health services for all college-aged students. Dr. Okolo holds a doctorate in education from The George Washington University, a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University, and a bachelor's degree in Family Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. A native of Washington, D.C., her work continues to contribute to advancing inclusive and accessible higher education practices.
This online event focuses on empowering students through four key pillars:
Become a Sponsor!
Looking for a custom way to support? We design bespoke partnerships for organizations looking to make a specific impact. Email hello@mindoutloud.org to learn more.
Meet the MOL26 Hosts!
Join Aneel Brar, Mind Out Loud Student Rep, and Jeremiah Aja, Director of Communications at Wellness Together, Inc., as they team up to co-host the 6th Annual Mind Out Loud Student Event.
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Mind Out Loud Student Rep
Aneel Brar is a senior in highschool who has actively been involved in the production of the Mind Out Loud podcast series titled Talking Out Loud on Spotify. He joined Mind Out Loud to help de stigmatize mental health concerns and discussions in the youth of our generation. Aneel enjoys playing waterpolo and spending time in the outdoors.
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Director of Communications, Wellness Together Inc.
Jeremiah Aja is a licensed therapist and serves as the Director of Communications for the national nonprofit Wellness Together, Inc. He has served students and families since 2000 in school-based and community settings. He is a member of the California Department of Education State Suicide Postvention Response Team and an original member of the California Department of Education Mental Health Collaborative. Jeremiah holds a Master's Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Master's Degree in Psychology from Brandman University. He is impressed you read all of this and lives in Sacramento, CA, with his wife and two daughters.
Why Attend Mind Out Loud 2026?
Inspiration: Hear powerful stories from students and speakers leading the change in mental health adovacy.
Skills & Resources: Gain practical tools to promote mental wellness in your school and community.
Connection: Watch with friends or host a watch party to spark meaningful conversations and build a supportive community around mental health.
You can be the reason students tune in.
Host a Mind Out Loud Watch Party!
A Mind Out Loud Watch Party is a gathering where students can experience the event together - in classrooms, after-school programs, student clubs, or even with friends in their living rooms.
Schedule a Watch Party — Anytime That Works for You!
✦Create a shared experience
Give students a fun, interactive space to watch and connect with each other.
✦Make it a part of your day
Include the Watch Party into class time or wellness lessons to reinforce learning.
✦Spark meaningful conversations
Start open, honest discussions about mental health during or after the Watch Party
✦Watch it when it works for you
Register to get the recording and host your Watch Party whenever it fits best.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Mind Out Loud’s 6th Annual Online Student Event
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The 2026 Mind Out Loud event is Wellness Together’s 6th Annual FREE Online Student Event focused on mental health advocacy. Scheduled for May 20, 2026, at 10 AM PDT, the event aims to empower students (13+) with practical and creative ways to share their stories and discuss mental health.
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The event is designed for students aged 13 years or older and for adults hosting watch parties for students. Please note that guests will be sharing personal stories, which may include sensitive topics such as suicide, depression, and anxiety.
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No, the event is completely free of charge.
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The event focuses on empowering students through
Inspiration: Hearing powerful stories from students and speakers leading change in mental health advocacy.
Skills & Resources: Gaining practical tools to promote mental wellness in schools and communities.
Connection: Watching with friends or hosting a watch party to spark meaningful conversations and build a supportive community around mental health.
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The event will be co-hosted by Aneel, a Mind Out Loud Student Representative, and Jeremiah Aja, Director of Communications at Wellness Together.
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A Watch Party is a gathering where students can experience the event together, such as in classrooms, after-school programs, student clubs, or even with friends at home. Hosting a Watch Party creates a shared experience, integrates the event into learning, and sparks meaningful conversations about mental health. Educators, school staff, and community leaders can sign up to host a Watch Party HERE.
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Yes! The events will be recorded and available for hosting watch parties throughout the rest of the 2025 - 2026 school year.
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To receive the latest updates and resources, you can sign up for the Mind Out Loud mailing list HERE.
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For additional inquiries, please email hello@mindoutloud.org.
Previous Mind Out Loud Speakers
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![Rainn Wilson]()
Rainn Wilson
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![Angie Thomas]()
Angie Thomas
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![Tony Hale]()
Tony Hale
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![Big Sean]()
Big Sean
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![A young man wearing a San Francisco Giants baseball cap, looking over his shoulder with a slight smirk, against a blurred background of a bridge or structure.]()
Drew Robinson
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![Senator Portantino]()
Senator Portantino
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![Laken Tomlinson]()
Laken Tomlinson
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![Emma Benoit]()
Emma Benoit
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![Max Stossel]()
Max Stossel
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![Propaganda]()
Propaganda
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![Shane Harper]()
Shane Harper
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![Nahoa Life]()
Nahoa Life
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![A woman with long dark hair looking up and to the right, wearing a yellow top with black heart patterns, standing against a dark gray background.]()
Aparna Nancherla
About the Event
Mind Out Loud, a division of Wellness Together, partners with the Commision for Behavioral Health, Blue Shield of California, the San Diego County Office of Education, the California Department of Education, and Pinterest to bring you the 6th Annual FREE virtual event for students!
Join students from across the US & around the world leading the student mental health movement!
Don’t miss an update!
Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on new announcements and resources.
Use of Likeness:
By attending the 2026 Mind Out Loud event, you acknowledge and agree to grant Wellness Together Inc. the right to record, film, photograph, or capture your likeness at the conference in any media now available or hereafter developed and to distribute, broadcast, use, or otherwise globally to disseminate, in perpetuity, such media without any further approval or payment from you. This grant to Wellness Together includes but is not limited to, the right to edit such media, the right to use the media alone or together with other information, and the right to allow others to use or disseminate the media. If registering for a third party, I agree to inform them of the "Use of Likeness" Policy prior to the event.
The views, business practices, and opinions expressed by these individuals, organizations, and corporations do not necessarily represent those of Mind Out Loud, Wellness Together School Mental Health, or the California Department of Education. Presentations, presenters, and partners are all subject to change at any time for any reason.
