OSPF’s Mamta Bajgain Named a 2025 Beacon Award Honoree 

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation is proud to announce that Mamta Bajgain, project coordinator, has been named a 2025 Beacon Award honoree by the Ellis Island Honors Society. The 4th Annual Beacon Awards were presented Jan. 23, 2025, in New York City, recognizing young leaders living and working in America who demonstrate exceptional vision, innovation, and humanitarian commitment to making the world a more equitable, compassionate, and humane place. 

For Mamta, the recognition reflects years of work building culturally responsive programs for Ohio’s Bhutanese Nepali community and others, where stigma and limited access to resources have long stood as barriers to mental health support. 

“I’ve tried to create programs that meet real needs, connect families to resources, and support youth in finding their voice,” she said when asked what she believed led to her selection. “My work touches on vision, innovation, and humanitarian impact, but what matters most to me is the humanitarian side. I focus on supporting refugee and immigrant families, helping improve wellbeing, reduce stigma, and create spaces where people feel truly seen, supported, and connected.” 

Building Safe Spaces Across Ohio 

Among Mamta’s most impactful initiatives are the Bhutanese Nepali Suicide Prevention Listening Sessions she coordinated in spring 2024 across the state. The sessions brought together community members to share their lived experiences with mental health, something she described as transformative for participants and organizers alike. 

“Seeing people break the stigma and openly talk about their lived experiences was incredibly powerful,” she said. “It showed how creating safe, culturally responsive spaces can foster connection, understanding, and healing within our communities.” 

Her dedication is reflected in her daily work at OSPF, where she prioritizes listening, builds programs grounded in lived experience, helps young people step into leadership, and works to ensure mental health resources are accessible to those who need them most. 

A Journey Rooted in Resilience 

The Beacon Awards, presented by the Ellis Island Honors Society, celebrate the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and honor individuals whose immigrant roots have shaped their sense of purpose and responsibility. For Mamta, that connection is deeply personal. 

“My immigrant heritage has shaped how I see the world and my responsibility to others,” she said. “Coming here as a refugee, I experienced the challenges of adapting to a new culture, navigating unfamiliar systems, and trying to find a sense of belonging. If it weren’t for the compassionate people who helped my family when we arrived, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Their support showed me how much a single person or community can make a difference.” 

Those early experiences directly inform her approach to leadership. “My approach to leadership and service comes from my journey as a refugee and the values my family instilled in me: resilience, empathy, and the importance of lifting others as you rise,” she said. “Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about showing up for your community and helping others thrive.” 

Recognition on a National Stage 

At the ceremony in New York City, Mamta joined honorees from across the country, each recognized for their work in fields ranging from technology to the arts to civic leadership. She said what struck her most was what the honorees had in common. 

“Being recognized at the Beacon Award Ceremony alongside other young leaders from across the country was both inspiring and humbling,” she said. “What stood out most to me was the compassion everyone brought to their work, no matter the industry or focus.” 

A Message for the Next Generation 

When asked what advice she would give to other young professionals who want to lead with purpose, her answer was clear. 

“Know your ‘why’, stick to it, and surround yourself with people who lift you up,” she said. “Don’t let where you come from limit what you can accomplish. Your background can shape you, but it doesn’t define what you’re capable of.”