Meet our Conversationalist of the Week, Satvik Sethi!
Founder of the Runaway App!
Recently, The Conversationalist got to catch up with Satvik Sethi, the Founder of Runaway. Back in 2014 while combing the internet for inspirational quotes, all he saw were people using Instagram as a form of therapy. They were letting the world know of their pain and struggles, without listing who they were. In a span of eight weeks, he came across over fifty people from regions all over the world! This haunting find led him to begin reaching out to anyone he noticed could be in need of a friend, thus resulting in the app his community know and love today.
We got to sit down with him and discuss mental health and what he hopes to achieve with Runaway, and we were beyond pleased with what he had to say. Let’s kick off this conversation!
Satvik, why do conversations matter to you?
Conversations have been a great way for me to learn about people and the lives they lead, and to learn about things happening around me every day that would often go unnoticed. Growing up, I was faced with social exclusion, which resulted in feeling like I had no one to open up to. Starting conversations have always been a way for me to make new friends and expand my mindset later on in life. It’s simple. Start a conversation or listen to one. You never know how they will impact you in one way or another.
What is Runaway, how did you start it, and what is your vision of what you hope to accomplish with your platform?
Runaway is an app that lets people go online and talk to people like me, as well as student volunteers who want to listen and be there. While the app is still under development, we’ve quickly evolved into a loving community.
What started it was my experience in middle school. I was socially excluded and I often saw people being bullied. I actually lost one of my friends to suicide, I self-harmed and I had friends who also self-harmed. I felt it was because we had no one to talk to. After coming across an image online of someone self-harming when I was sixteen, going through what I had gone through, I reached out to this person. That night, I had spoken to more than six people who just needed an ear. That's when I thought of creating a safe space for people who needed it.
Every day, I try to add more resources to help people with their mental health in any way I can. We host events, introduce partnerships that are inline with our recent one that provided our followers with a year of free virtual therapy. We work with organizations like Mental Health America and World Health Organization to empower young advocates and activists as well as conduct research on student mental health. The point of the Runaway app is to make the word happier, because making the world happier has always been my dream. I’m so grateful for all the students on our INCREDIBLE team that have joined Runaway, and joined me on this journey to make the world a lot better than we found it.
How can we start more conversations about happiness, therapy, self care, and wellness?
I think we just have to embrace these topics. I think it’s important for us to realize that mental health exists. So, why is it so wrong to talk about it? If you see someone struggling, it doesn’t matter if they’re your friends or family, just put out a helping hand. Reach out and offer to be there. I’ve seen so many people not talk about mental health to their parents because they’re from a different generation. When I started Runaway, my parents hated the idea that I was talking to people with mental illness. They thought that I might “become like them”. Over the years, I’ve educated them on mental health and showed them the impact I was having on people. I can proudly say that today, they’re my biggest fans.
If you see someone bullying someone, stop it. You have to raise your voice for all those who don’t have one, you have to stand up for what’s right, and at the end of the day you have to be a nice person. There’s nothing better than just being nice to people around you, and really being willing to help without expecting anything in return.
How can our audience get involved with all that you’re doing?
Runaway has always been and will always be open to bringing people on board that want to make the world a better place.. I’ve had people join the team not knowing what they’re going to do. This sometimes allows me to create a position for them because I love their passion! Our team is spread out across the world, and we’re just getting started!
Get connected with us, follow our social media, and if you want to work with us in any capacity, just shoot me an email.
Email: satvik@runawayapp.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/Runaway.app
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/runaway_app
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/runawayapp
Website: www.runawayapp.com
