Areli Rosales

Advisor
NAMI Next Gen

Areli Rosales (she/her) is a 21-year-old Latina from El Paso, Texas, and a proud first-generation graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Currently serving as a care coordinator at a behavioral clinic, Areli is deeply committed to mental health advocacy, blending her academic background and lived experiences with episodic depression, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, and as a survivor of sexual assault and a suicide attempt.

Her journey into mental health advocacy began after experiencing the transformative power of seeking help, gaining psychoeducation, and finding support within her community. Having navigated cultural stigma and the generational cycles that view mental health struggles as character flaws, she is passionate about breaking down these barriers.

Areli actively collaborates with several mental health organizations, including as the director of her organization, KeepInMind, and serving as the 2024 Student Voice of Mental Health for the JED Foundation. She has served as a curriculum consultant for Work2BeWell, a mentor with Texans for Drug-Free and Safe Youth, a 988 Spanish Advisory Committee member, and a lead intern at Xposure Academy. She focuses on storytelling, community building, and mental health education to aid in prevention and support recovery. In her free time, Areli loves hiking and running outdoors, dancing with friends, and is always ready for karaoke.