ANU graduate Sonali Varma says Australia must facilitate community for young people struggling with isolation and loneliness.

Sonali Varma wasn’t planning to study at ANU.   

In 2019, she moved to London to pursue a bachelor’s degree at University College London.   

But when the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, she relocated back to Canberra.  

“Initially I was trying to avoid studying at ANU because I’m from Canberra and my mum studied here,” she says.   

“After finishing a semester abroad, I ended up taking a semester off and decided to transfer to ANU when things clearly weren’t quite going to let me go back.”  

Luckily, she says this change meant things “worked out for the better”.  

“I was able to explore a few different areas that I’m interested in studying whilst refining my interest in mental health alongside as all the research opportunities at ANU.”  

When the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, Sonali Varma relocated back to Canberra. Photo:  Nic Vevers/ANU

As a child, Varma was torn between pursuing a career in neurology or fashion design.  

Instead, she has graduated with First Class Honours in Population Health.  

In addition to serving as an ANU Student Ambassador and sessional academic, Varma volunteers as a Lifeline Crisis Supporter during her spare time.   

“It’s a fantastic way to hear about different people’s experiences that aren’t just the people in my immediate vicinity, because sometimes it can be hard to get out of your bubble,” she says.   

“The conversations I have had whilst at Lifeline are so valuable – hopefully for them as well – but definitely for me.”   

Varma’s personal mental health journey ignited her passion for youth advocacy in the mental health space.   

“Whilst the mental health system in Australia is generally well intending and full of really wonderful people, it’s not set up in a way that best serves young people,” she says.   

“We really need to focus on the prevention side of things and stop things from escalating before it gets too late, because that’s definitely something I experienced and felt really disheartened by.   

As the elected Board Director for both the Australian Association for the Adolescent Health and the Youth Coalition of the ACT, Varma collaborates with young people from different backgrounds.  

“I hope that through the work I am doing now and will hopefully go on to do after this is contributing to a more psychologically safe world for young people in particular.”  

Sonali Varma’s personal mental health journey ignited her passion for youth advocacy in the mental health space.   Photo: Nic Vevers/ANU

“At the moment, we are seeing an increase in loneliness, isolation and an overall lack of community, and our priority should be facilitating community for young people,” she says.   

“That is one area that needs to be addressed – not exclusive to mental health but just community wellbeing and connectedness.   

“This would de-escalate people’s mental health conditions and set up systems and networks for young people where they can get to know each other and stay connected, which will only become more important as the social media ban for children under 16 comes into play.”

With the knowledge she gained during her degree guiding the way, Varma wants to ensure youth advisory groups have lived-experience expertise so individuals from all walks of life are represented and supported.   

“We need to make sure that young people are not just being consulted with on these initiatives, but that their feedback has been implemented – that they are designed by and for young people experiencing mental health challenges,” she says.   

Although she recently landed a graduate position with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Varma knows her journey with tertiary study is not quite over.   

“Having these opportunities at ANU has really opened my eyes to what I want to do after graduating, which is ironically more study,” she says.  

“I’m confident I will complete a PhD at some point, but I think it’ll be good to get some more experience and build up my repertoire of skills.  

“I hope to continue to advocate for and facilitate ways in which young people can get involved in sharing their perspectives and their voices.”    

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