Meet Imaan Siddiqi | Mental Health Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Imaan Siddiqi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Imaan, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
To me, success is parallel to impact. One of my greatest accomplishments was being featured in the Macy’s x NAMI x Jed Foundation Mission Every One back to school campaign. I had the chance to speak about my experience with mental health and what I hope to see in the future. I got to witness myself, a brown Hijabi, on billboards in one of the biggest department stores nationwide. The messages I received as a result solidified my reason for working in mental health advocacy in the first place. My success is equivalent to the people whose lives my work has impacted.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an advocate because my grandmother battled mental illness. I didn’t know until years after her passing, when I myself was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It hurt for me to realize how she must have struggled, given the stigma surrounding mental health in the South Asian community. It’s her strength and my own lived experience that pushes me to be a voice for underrepresented groups. In 2022, I was chosen to be a part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NextGen board, a 10 member group of young adults picked from over 500 applicants nationwide. We were tasked with advising and innovating how NAMI contributes to mental health awareness in youth/young adults. I was able to participate in opportunities representing the mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as facilitating development of the game “Say It Out Loud” and being part of Macy’s Mission Every One 2022 back to school campaign. Seeing tangible results of my work motivated me to keep pushing the boundaries and stepping out of my comfort zone.
Following the end of my term in NextGen, I was invited to join NAMI National’s Board of Executives as a non voting member. I provide a young adult perspective in fulfilling NAMI’s purpose to advocate and support. Sitting on the board with me are doctors, CEOs, and accomplished writers. I expected a steep learning curve, but I wasn’t prepared for the encouraging atmosphere. I have a board mentor who answers all of my questions with patience and am surrounded by NAMI staff who do everything they can to help me. I am confident that with them and my fellow board members, I can take huge steps towards making the changes I’ve always dreamed of.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Funnily enough, this actually happened not too long ago. A close friend of mine from Indonesia came to visit over Thanksgiving and I was determined to show her all that North Carolina had to offer. Our destinations included Cary, Greenville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Emerald Isle, and of course, Raleigh. As self-proclaimed cat people, we had to stop by the SPCA of Wake County, where they have rooms full of adoptable cats to play with. We walked around downtown Raleigh and took selfies with the highrises in the background. After the sunset, we went over Hillsborough St on NC State campus and ate at Meat & Bite, the perfect place to satisfy your Halal comfort food cravings. We finished the night with Cookout milkshakes in a random parking lot, while the car blasted the heater and our favorite playlist. If we had more time, I would take her to explore Pullen Park, have noodles at Pho Far East, maybe get cheese and za’atar bread from Jerusalem Bakery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It would be my honor to give a shoutout to Annie Schmidt. She was the Executive Director of NAMI Wake County and now serves as a Senior Manager in NAMI National. Annie was my supervisor when I first started interning with NAMI Wake as a high schooler. She encouraged me every step of the way and helped me build my skill set so I could advance further in my advocacy. She remains a pillar of support even now, as I serve as a board member for NAMI National.

Other: https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Who-We-Are/Meet-the-Board/Imaan-Siddiqi