Ambassador Feature

Meet Trent University Ambassador, Mahika Saluja

When Mahika Saluja arrived in Peterborough from India to attend Trent University for her undergrad degree, she was a newcomer in an unfamiliar place. 

More than three years later, she has “all good things to say” about what has become her “second home.” Still, she admits adjusting to her new surroundings was a challenge early on. 

“Being an international student and having to adjust to a different culture; everything was happening all at once…transitioning into university from high school and then being in a different country altogether,” recalls Mahika, soon to enter her fourth and final year at Trent where she’s taking a double major in psychology and biology. 

“But Trent’s international (student program) was very welcoming and supportive in terms of providing resources, helping with the transition of moving into a new country and being with your peers. Just knowing there were others like me and that were resources to help me out was a relief and definitely helped ease my journey.” 

Mahika first became aware of Cam’s Kids through Instagram. Seeing that the Trent University chapter was looking for Ambassadors and wanting to do volunteer work of some kind, she was intrigued and applied, but not before doing her homework.  

 “I visited the (Cam’s Kids) website and realized that its mission perfectly aligned with my major (of psychology) as well as it (mental health) was something I was passionate about,” she says. 

While her Ambassador experience has been satisfying on a number of levels, Mahika remains focused on increasing student engagement with Cam’s Kids. She says Trent students, unlike herself, shouldn’t happen upon the foundation by sheer chance. 

“The level of student engagement Cam’s Kids should get and deserves is something we can still work toward. That can only be great for students because it's such a great resource. It's not just limited to the social events we organize on campus. It's much more than that. There's local resources Cam’s Kid provides. Kids Help Phone is also available 24/7 providing free, confidential e-mental support..”  

The Cam’s Kids team at Trent, says Mahika, numbers close to 15 Ambassadors – a small team, she says, but that’s not a bad thing as “everybody is familiar with each other.” During the school year, it meets regularly, exploring opportunities to engage with the student body beyond the annual Candy Cane and Chocolate Heart distribution campaigns. 

Mahika says many of the Trent students the team has interacted with have been “surprised” to discover there are readily available free resources to help them overcome their anxiety, whether it be fleeting or long-term. 

 As for own interactions with students, Mahika focuses on “the bigger picture” of letting them know that there is an organization in place determined to help in any way it can. In other words, they are not alone. 

“Anxiety is not unique. It's not something that happens to one individual. It's universal. Being aware of how you can cope, knowing what works best for you, is important. Spreading the message that they’re always welcome to be part of our events, or to check out the website and our social media, has to be a focus.” 

“But, for me, the first step is letting students know they're in a safe space. I’m here to listen. And then follow that up by letting them know about resources available to them, like the free, confidential 24/7 text line. Admitting you’re struggling takes a lot of courage but it also showcases your strength.” 

Mahika says her Cam’s Kids involvement connects well with her ambition of one day working in the non-profit sector around the issues of mental health advocacy, equity and inclusion.  

“I used to think that when overwhelmed, I’m better off being by myself. I’ve learned that being alone with my thoughts isn’t helpful and is sometimes difficult to come out of. Having trusted people around you there are there to support you and having access to the resources in place to help you, is a huge help.”

Mahika says anxiety isn’t talked about openly in her country. 

“I’ve seen that prejudice and stereotyping in my culture. I want to challenge that. That’s one of the reasons I chose to study abroad. Cam’s Kids is great, and I hope it continues on a global level and everyone who needs access to these resources can access them.” 

 If you or someone you know is seeking mental health supports, you can text the word CAM to 686868 to connect with a trained, volunteer crisis responder for support any time, about anything.