"I think I would tell my younger self to not be afraid to commit to wanting better for yourself. I think especially as women, we are encouraged to fit roles and that often means pausing what we want or what we want to do to support others; to be there for others; to push others up. And as much as that's important, I think that I would definitely tell my younger self to try to take a chance at a better life - a better future - for me because it's scary but you meet a lot of really cool people doing it who are doing good things and want to be there for you, too."

Today's episode features Part 2 of Olivia's story! Olivia Miller is an 20 year-old advocate from Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. She is currently completing a double major in Peace and Conflict and Social Development Studies with a minor in Political Science at the University of Waterloo.

Olivia is the co-founder and director of the Bridges of Hope Project and Community Ambassador for the Umbrella Project. She is a contributor with several community and national initiatives, including The Activist Collab, The Wilmot Post and more.

Bridges of Hope is a platform by youth for promoting mental health awareness by execution of local events and social media campaigns. Olivia uses this platform to speak at community events and schools, sharing her personal struggles with mental health and conflicts.

Olivia has been open about her journey with mental illness as a young adult. She has discovered through her experiences how important it is to take care of yourself and seek help when you need it, after struggling to graduate high school and suffering harsh anxious episodes. She is passionate about sharing her message with others so they know they are never alone.

IG: @selftalkwithliv

The YANApodcast:

Instagram: @the_yanapodcast 

Website: www.theyanapodcast.com

New episodes every Tuesday!

NAMI PHILLY:

Instagram: @NAMIPhiladelphia or @namiphillyyouth

Website: www.namiphilly.org 

NAMI Philadelphia Warmline: 844.PHL.HOPE

CRISIS RESOURCES:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8255)

Crisis Text Line: Text “NAMI” to 741-741

Philadelphia Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotline (215) 686-4420

National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Help Line (CALL OR TEXT): (800) 931-2237

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): (800) 662-HELP (4357) to get connected to help for substance use disorders.

The Trevor Project (Suicide/Crisis Support for LGBTQ+ Youth): (866) 488-7386, Text “Start” to 678-678