Family crisis inspires student’s mental health mission 

The conversation with her mother lasted only a few minutes. But for Kyra Wagner, it changed the trajectory of her life.

During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wagner learned that one of her brothers was struggling with his mental health. Watching her family navigate a crisis shared by millions of American households, the Nashville teenager found herself asking a difficult question: Who helps children through moments like this?

The answer became her calling. Wagner enrolled at Spelman College to study psychology, determined to become a child therapist and help young people — particularly Black children — find support before a crisis becomes a tragedy.

Pandemic shapes a calling

As rates of anxiety, depression and suicide among Black youth climbed during and after the pandemic, Wagner’s family experience became a lifelong mission. It has now earned her national recognition.

A 21-year-old rising senior at Spelman, Wagner has been named the undergraduate recipient of The Jed Foundation’s 2026 Student Voice of Mental Health Award, which honors college students who are transforming the emotional well-being of their campuses and communities.

“I’ve always believed turning lived experiences into action is one of the most powerful ways to create change,” Wagner said. “I remain committed to building solutions that improve mental health outcomes for groups with limited access to resources or opportunities and inspire others to do the same.”

Wagner’s path to the award was shaped by her upbringing in Tennessee, where she was known for academic excellence and a deep commitment to family. Like many teenagers with divorced parents and blended families, she navigated shifting roles — the eldest child in one household but not the other — while watching her mother manage financial strain and family transitions.

But it was a pivotal conversation with her mother during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Wagner was still in high school, that became the “aha” moment, pointing her toward mental health advocacy. Her brother was struggling, and the family was unsure what to do.

The experience influenced Wagner’s decision to pursue a degree in psychology with the goal of helping children. Her brother’s struggle reflected what many Black families experienced during the pandemic.

Black youth at risk

According to the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about 29% of high school students reported using alcohol, marijuana or misusing prescription opioids. About one-third of those students reported using two or more substances.

A related CDC survey, the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, found that during the first six months of 2021, when much of the nation was under COVID-19 restrictions, 31.6% of high school students said they used tobacco, alcohol or marijuana to cope. Alcohol use alone reached 19.5%, with a notable share of students reporting binge drinking.

The toll was especially severe for Black youth ages 10 to 24. They experienced a 37% increase in suicides between 2018 and 2021 — the largest increase of any racial group in the country.

At Spelman, Wagner has built a record of leadership rooted in community and entrepreneurship. She serves as the inaugural president of the college’s Center for Black Entrepreneurship and as co-director of events for the local chapter of the nonprofit Sisters in Sync.

Wagner is also conducting research examining how stress and financial pressures affect maternal mortality among Black women. She mentors young girls in her community and was selected as a Rare Impact Ambassador through Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty brand.

The Jed Foundation’s Student Voice of Mental Health Award recognizes students who build peer support systems and advance suicide prevention efforts on campus and in their communities. Wagner’s selection places her among a small group of young advocates nationally recognized for transforming personal hardship into public service.

“This award reaffirms that the work I am doing matters and our stories deserve to be seen and heard,” Wagner said.

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