Rising Spelman College Senior Recognized for Her Work In Mental Health

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. 

The COVID Pandemic Takes Its Toll

As rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among Black youth climbed during and after the pandemic, Wagner’s family experience became a lifelong mission, and 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, honoring 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 says. “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 in the other — while watching her mother manage financial strain and family transitions.

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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 situation influenced Wagner’s decision to pursue a degree in psychology, with an eye toward helping children. Indeed, her brother’s struggle was common for Black families during the pandemic. 

Black Youth Are Highly Vulnerable

According to the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, roughly 29% of high school students use alcohol, marijuana, or misuse of prescription opioids. About a third of those students use two or more substances. 

A related CDC survey, the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, found that during the first six months of 2021, the height of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, 31.6% of high school students said they were using 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 between the ages of 10 and 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 organization Sisters in Sync. 

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

JED’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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