Youth Advisory Board

The Youth Advisory Board of the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) brings together young leaders and advocates to amplify the voices of adolescents and young adults impacted by PMDD and related disorders. The board provides insight on programs, resources, and outreach strategies to ensure they are relevant, inclusive, and accessible to younger communities. By sharing lived experience and creative ideas, members help shape awareness initiatives, reduce stigma, and strengthen support for the next generation.

  • Mika has been involved with IAPMD since July 2024 and is passionate about advocating for mental health support for individuals living with premenstrual disorders. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New York University in 2023 and is currently pursuing a master’s in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University.

    Mika’s long-term goal is to become a licensed therapist specializing in hormone-related mood disorders.

    Outside of school and volunteering, she enjoys reading, sewing, surfing, and spending time with friends. She has also devoted significant time to training her service dog, Mara, and is passionate about animal-assisted therapy.

  • Sophia is 23 years old from Scotland and has lived with PMDD for a decade. She has a bachelor’s degree in Politics and Sociology and just completed her Master’s in Human Rights. In her MSc, she completed qualitative research on PMDD in a UK work context, critically analysing the adequacy of the Equality Act, as a consultancy report for The PMDD Project. Sophia doesn’t want anyone growing up how she did - with no resources on PMDD and only being able to confide in her mum, who also had it. Sophia’s goal is to leverage her expertise to help others, especially young people who may have the condition.

  • Nivedita joined IAPMD in 2026, bringing both lived experience and deep scientific curiosity to her advocacy after living with PMDD symptoms for more than a decade. Originally from India, she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at IIT Kanpur, majoring in Engineering with minors spanning Cognitive Neuroscience, Statistical Physics, and Quantum Physics. She completed her PhD in Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford, UK, and will continue her academic journey as a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton and Waterloo.

    A mental health advocate and trained Mental Health First Aider, Nivedita is passionate about destigmatizing PMDD and related disorders, helping young people navigate education systems, find meaningful support, and redefine success in ways that honour their health, needs, and lived realities. She feels strongly about championing women in STEM and building systems without cracks for people to fall through.

    And when asked to choose between the beach and the mountains, she always says both. 


  • Ella has been involved with IAPMD since 2021. She began her advocacy after she was diagnosed with PMDD in 2020. Originally from British Columbia, Canada, Ella holds a Bachelor’s of Journalism degree from the University of King’s College. She works as a TV reporter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ella wants to help young people with PMDD/PME advocate for themselves in the high school, college, and university environments, as well as in the early stages of their careers. Ella’s mother and grandmother both had PMDD, and, as a family, they learned (and are still learning) how to navigate the generational impacts of the condition together. When Ella’s not working on YAB tasks or at work, she enjoys baking, swing dancing, mountain biking, and pretty much anything outside.

  • Haleigh Michelle is an African-American multi-passionate creative native Detroiter (MI). Haleigh’s passion for premenstrual advocacy began after spending 4 years misdiagnosed with a mood disorder prior to her PMDD diagnosis. Haleigh’s own struggles in her personal and professional life have led her to seek to improve the visibility and support for sufferers of premenstrual disorders worldwide, and she joined the IAMPD Youth Advisory Board in March of 2025. In a world that often under-supports Black women and their holistic well-being, Haleigh hopes to help eradicate the negative stigma around AFAB-centered conditions, and foster a global movement of intersectional compassion, understanding, and standard policies of support for those who experience challenges due to their premenstrual disorders. Haleigh is in the process of completing Comprehensive Pilates Instructor Certification and plans to return to complete her degree in Philosophy, Politics, & Economics in Autumn 2026. When she's not traveling, Haleigh can be found sketching still-lifes in charcoal, baking, and attempting to maintain fluency in Mandarin Chinese, Italian, and French. 

  • Sara is an Italian youth advocate based in Luxembourg who joined the IAPMD Youth Advisory Board in early 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Luxembourg. She is currently pursuing a Master of Laws in Public International Law and Human Rights Law (LLM) at the London School of Economics (LSE). Currently, Sara serves as Vice President of Aidons-tous Solidarité and Secretary General of Bonnievale Projects, two organizations dedicated to development cooperation and education across Africa. In 2024, she was honoured with a Human Rights Fellowship by the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. As Luxembourg’s Youth Delegate to both the European Union and the APF, Sara has been a vital voice in youth policymaking across EU and international platforms, contributing to the development of youth-related policies. Deeply committed to inclusive governance and equitable access to education, she continues to advocate for meaningful youth engagement in policymaking at local and global levels.