Buzz Aldrin. Selena Gomez. Demi Lovato. Vijay Nallawala. Jonathan Van Ness. Deepika Padukone. Michael Phelps. Dak Prescott. Teddy Roosevelt. Malidoma Patrice Some. Oprah Winfrey, and more. This year, we wanted applicants to Think Outside the Stigma to change the discourse around mental health stigma. So we asked them to tell us about an inspirational public figure diagnosed with a mental illness.

Our applicants did not disappoint. They wrote to us from the United States and Canada, and from countries in Africa and Asia. Above are just some of the names they shared of a wide range of accomplished people, from the present and the past.

We also wanted our applicants to demonstrate the Value of Study and asked that they research and provide details on the background of the public figure they selected. Specifically, we wanted to know who they are, how they navigated challenges, about their achievements/social impact and on their ability to inspire.

The winners most adeptly changed the discourse in their answers, bringing less common (but very relevant) perspectives to the conversation around mental health stigma.

Ultimately, we awarded three applicants as MSM Bright Suns Scholars and one applicant as an MSM Bright Suns Honorable Mention.

Visit each one to learn more about them and their ideas that we loved.

We look forward to re-opening the application in the Summer of 2023 - Thank you to all our applicants!!