Aaliyah Nadirah Madyun, program director at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute, recently spoke with Tom Osborn, founder of the Shamiri Institute, about navigating rejection in the mental health field.
Osborn brings real experience to the conversation. He built the Shamiri Institute from the ground up, a journey that required persistence through setbacks. His work focuses on making mental health support accessible to young people, particularly in underserved communities.
The discussion centers on a truth that emerging mental health professionals often confront: rejection is part of the path. Grant proposals get turned down. Job applications go unanswered. Research submissions face criticism. Rather than viewing these moments as failures, Osborn frames rejection as information. Each "no" points toward what didn't work and what needs adjustment.
For young professionals entering this field, the conversation offers practical perspective. Building a career in child and adolescent mental health requires both passion and resilience. The Shamiri Institute's work demonstrates that innovation in youth mental health comes from people willing to keep moving forward after disappointment.
Madyun's role at the SNF Global Center positions her at the intersection of leadership development and youth mental health innovation. By bringing together voices like Osborn's, the organization creates space for emerging leaders to hear from those who've navigated similar challenges.
Parents watching their teenagers consider careers in mental health might appreciate this framing too. The conversation validates that setbacks don't signal unfitness for the work. They're part of how you learn what matters, what works, and who you become as a professional. Young people interested in psychology, counseling, or mental health advocacy can take heart knowing that rejection doesn't close doors. It redirects them.
The full conversation appears on the Child Mind Institute blog, where