Communicator Fellow Gathers Engaged Youth in Brazil to Create Resources to Support Mental Health

São Paulo (Brazil) – The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute believes that translating research into accessible knowledge that empowers young people, families, and communities is integral to advancing mental health care. The Communicator Fellowship builds on this commitment by supporting professionals who can bring evidence-based mental health information to the public in clear, engaging, and culturally relevant ways.

Vinicius Gaby Vieira Rego, MD, of Brazil, the new Communicator Fellow, exemplifies this mission. Working with youth, he is co-creating a multi-platform literacy hub designed to combat harmful misinformation by empowering Brazil’s young leaders.

“This fellowship will enable a multi-channel communication project aimed at strengthening mental health literacy and peer-support capacity — with young people and for young people — across the country,” said Rego. “We are researching what has already been done in other countries, identifying the gaps, and discovering what we can do to contribute.”

The proposed work will be grounded in three productive pillars: short videos for social media, a podcast dedicated to in-depth conversations, and an online course focused on combating stigma and equipping teenagers to support their peers. Part of this work will be shaped by contributions from an Advisory Council currently being formed.

The Council will consist of ten members between the ages of 13 and 19, representing all regions of the country, and will run for one year with the possibility of renewal. “The idea is for the council to be a key part of the process with us, helping build the content, think about the most relevant messages and formats, and identify the most urgent needs in terms of quality mental health information”, explains Rego.

“Vinicius’ project is ambitious, and with the support of the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo, we know it will provide young people in Brazil with much-needed resources to support their mental health,” said Peter Raucci, Director of Global Fellowship Strategy for the SNF Global Center. “What we’re seeing through the Communicator Fellowship is how quickly ideas can move from concept to culturally relevant, real-world impact”, he added.

“In the current digital environment, where adolescents are exposed to a high volume of mental health content, the need for evidence-based information that resonates with young people has never been greater,” said Guilherme Polanczyk, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo. “We are proud to endorse a project committed to supporting how young people and their communities understand and reflect on their mental health.”

Applications open for new selection process

Applications are now open for the 2026 Communicator Fellowship, designed to support a new generation of communicators working to shape child and adolescent mental health care in low- and middle-income countries, in addition to the SNF Global Center’s core country offices in Brazil, Greece, and South Africa. Up to three professionals working in public communications, including journalists, broadcasters, and podcasters, will be selected for the two-year program.

The application deadline is June 15, 2026. Fellows will be selected and announced by early August 2026. In addition to financial support of up to $100,000 USD, fellows will receive training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. For more information, please click here.

About the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute brings together the Child Mind Institute’s expertise as a leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s deep commitment to supporting collaborative projects to improve access to quality health care worldwide. The center is building partnerships to drive advances in under-researched areas of children and adolescents’ mental health, and expand access to culturally appropriate training, resources, and treatment in low- and middle-income countries. This work is conducted by the Child Mind Institute with support from SNF through its Global Health Initiative (GHI).

About the Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.