Sarah Kline
United for Global Mental Health
New York, NY USA
"You’re only here once, so make the most of it and do the best that you can for others."
Career Roadmap
Sarah's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Medicine, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
Graduate Degree
Political Science
University of Edinburgh
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I first experienced depression when I was nine years old after losing my grandmother, carrying feelings I didn’t yet understand.
2.
As a teenager, I struggled without support and fought to be heard, eventually advocating for my own diagnosis at 16.
3.
I became the first in my family to attend university, stepping into a world that felt both exciting and uncertain.
4.
I pursued global experiences early, studying abroad and learning firsthand how inequality shapes people’s lives.
5.
I built my career in nonprofits and international development, working on causes like responding to humanitarian emergencies and ending the Ebola outbreak.
6.
Despite being told my mental health would limit me, I refused to accept a smaller future and kept pushing forward.
7.
I was asked to lead work in mental health, and after deep reflection, chose to turn my lived experience into purpose.
8.
I co-founded and lead a global mental health organization, helping amplify voices and drive change worldwide.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
With your mental health condition, your career will be limited. Don't dream big.
How I responded:
At a point where I was really struggling with my mental health condition, my doctor told me that the best I could do in life was "take letters for an important man." I was told to lower my expectations and accept a smaller life because of my diagnosis. I refused to let that define me. I kept pushing, kept showing up, and proved to myself that I could lead, advocate, and build something meaningful. It's so important to realize you don't have to let your mental health condition hold you back.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I first experienced depression at age nine and struggled through my teens feeling incredibly low. I advocated for my own diagnosis at 16. My experience showed me how difficult it is for people to get mental health support when they're struggling.
I was the first in my family to go to university, which was a big deal for my family. Everything was unfamiliar and I didn't know anything about being a college student. I had to navigate a lot of the transition on my own.