Ishmeet Singh: A Champion for Equity, Mental Health in High School and Beyond

Ishmeet Singh, a junior at Stockdale High School, is reshaping how students across California receive critical mental health support. He spearheaded an initiative to integrate QR codes on all school ID cards across the state, linking students directly to the mental health resources they need. 

Inspired by his own personal struggles during the isolating months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ishmeet recognized an issue facing many students: despite significant investments in mental health resources, 66 percent of students in need weren’t receiving adequate care. He spoke with the Kern High School District (KHSD) and Bakersfield College (BC) to determine why students missed out on this care. He realized resources such as counselors and phone numbers were available, but there was a disconnect between those resources and the students who needed them.

“Students are very hesitant to reach out to a third party, but we are best friends with our phones,” Ishmeet shared. “User-friendliness was one of the highest priorities for me.”

The idea struck him while he was ordering dinner at a drive-through. He scanned a QR code for the menu and thought if fast-food restaurants could do it, why not schools? 

“There’s a QR code for the food menu, but we don’t have one where we most need it in the education system to support these kids with the mental struggles they face on a daily basis,” he explained.

Ishmeet developed and championed the idea, working with local school districts and policymakers to draft Senate Bill 1063. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Shannon Grove, passed and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom this year. The governor even used a QR code to acknowledge the bill’s signing and thanked Ishmeet for his community engagement.

“I got really emotional that day. That truly meant the world,” he said.

Ishmeet’s work advocating for equal access to mental health resources for all students earned him the prestigious Student Equity Champion Award at the 2024 EMBRACE Kern Equity Symposium hosted by KCSOS and the 21st Century California School Leadership Academy. The Equity Champion Awards recognize an educator, a community member, and a student who have made great strides in promoting equity and engaging in inclusive practices. Ishmeet’s counselor, Whitney Pearsey, says she was inspired to nominate him for this award because of his humility and relentless passion for improving the lives of others.

“His efforts exemplify what it means to be a leader and advocate for equity in our school,” she said.

The 2024 Kern County Equity Champions.

Ishmeet’s contributions to his community extend beyond mental health advocacy. During a research and internship program, he and his team used computational methods to make autonomous vehicles safer, and he is currently working on developing a video game to help people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Ishmeet also developed an AI model capable of diagnosing brain tumors using MRI scans, earning recognition at the International Science and Engineering Fair, where he competed against students worldwide and became a finalist. He says he was motivated by all the people around him who were driven to make the world a better place.  

“When people found an issue, they were passionate enough to take action,” he said. “That really inspired me.”

Ishmeet’s family says they couldn’t be prouder of all his achievements, especially the QR code ID cards. His mother, Dr. Jasleen Duggal, says it took a lot of ingenuity to come up with such an impactful idea at an early age, and determination to turn that vision into a reality. As a parent, she’s thrilled that he’s being recognized for his passion and compassion. 

“It fills my heart with joy because, ultimately, you want to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. 

Ishmeet’s father, Dr. Sarabjeet Singh, agrees, saying this award was a powerful moment for the entire family. He hopes that getting the recognition he deserves will give Ishmeet a mental boost to move forward with his endeavors in the future.

“Having him recognized and appreciated, I feel that he will be more inspired to keep doing good things for the world,” he said.

Ishmeet credits his parents—both healthcare professionals—with instilling in him the values of compassion and service toward others. Because of those values, he is drawn to pursue a career in cognitive science and healthcare, using groundbreaking technology in medicine to improve the lives of patients. 

“[Those] core values made me feel that healthcare is where I want to spend my time because that’s where I felt I could make the biggest difference,” he said. 

A devout Sikh, Ishmeet draws strength and perspective from his faith, which emphasizes service and equality regardless of background. At a young age, he qualified for the International Sikh Symposium for his age group, and he actively participates in community initiatives like Seva, a tradition of selfless service that inspires everyone in the community to lift each other. 

“That is what makes us human. That is humanity at its core,” Ishmeet asserts. “We have this altruistic nature of helping others, trying to uplift others in times when they feel down.”

Ultimately, Ishmeet says he is incredibly proud, humbled, and grateful to be recognized for his efforts to help his community, but this achievement does not belong to him alone. 

“It’s our entire community, one person at a time, which makes the biggest difference,” he said. “It’s not a moment, it’s a movement.”