Vildan Soguktas

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT VILDAN SOGUKTAS

Young woman - Advocate for youth mental health - Committed to Planetary Health She currently serves on the Youth Advisory Board of NAMI Virginia, where she contributes to youth-centered mental health advocacy as the Chair of Advocacy Committee. She is also a former fellow of the Climate Leaders Fellowship—a program co-hosted by the Deliberative Democracy Lab at Stanford University and the Rustic Pathways Foundation—and now continues to support the initiative as a facilitator and mentor. Within the fellowship, her focus has been on guiding other young leaders while raising awareness of the mental health impacts of environmental crises, especially eco-anxiety among youth. This role has strengthened her facilitation and communication skills, which she is eager to continue developing through further leadership opportunities. In addition, she is the founder of Young Women for Planetary Health (YWPH), the youth branch of Women Leaders for Planetary Health, a member of Planetary Health Alliance. YWPH is dedicated to empowering young women and promoting gender equity in the field of planetary health, with a strong emphasis on mental health and advocacy around the psychological effects of climate change. Under her leadership, the team has grown over the past two years to include 40 committed members—both young women and men—while consistently spotlighting female leadership across all initiatives. Through biweekly meetings focused on resilience-building, mental wellness, and peer learning, the group has created a supportive and educational space. They also lead advocacy campaigns and youth mobilization efforts to elevate young voices in climate and health-related conversations. Her experiences have deepened her understanding of the intersection between triple planetary crises, climate change and mental health, while also allowing her to support others and cultivate meaningful leadership and organizational skills. She remains committed to amplifying youth voices and advancing intersectional solutions that connect mental health, gender equity, and planetary well-being.