Janiah Fields is a 20-year-old Baltimore native and recent graduate of McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Africana Studies. Both on and off campus, she has devoted much of her time to Black mental health advocacy, with a particular focus on culturally responsive suicide prevention strategies.
During her time at McDaniel, Janiah held numerous leadership and mentorship roles. She served as an EDGE Mentor through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, supporting first-year students transitioning from Baltimore City Public Schools—an initiative deeply personal to her. She also worked as an Outreach Specialist in McDaniel’s Wellness Center, served on the President’s Advisory Council of Students, was the acting President of the Psychology Honors Society, and held the role of Upperclassmen Resident Assistant. Across all her roles, Janiah prioritized ensuring that students of color felt seen, supported, and empowered throughout their academic journeys.
Outside of McDaniel, Janiah has actively collaborated with organizations such as the Black Mental Health Alliance, Healing Youth Alliance, SAMHSA, and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. At just 19 years old, she was invited to the White House for the release of the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan under the Biden-Harris administration, in recognition of her work to raise awareness about Black youth suicide and the importance of addressing race in mental health efforts.
Additionally, Janiah served as a research assistant at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Mental Health. She was a member of the GRACE Lab, led by Dr. Leslie Adams, where she contributes to research focused on mental health disparities in Black communities. The lab’s work explores how racialized experiences influence suicidal ideation and mental health outcomes, using a community-based, mixed-methods approach.
In the fall, Janiah will begin pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Her long-term goal is to earn a doctorate and become a clinical researcher dedicated to advancing culturally grounded approaches to suicide prevention and promoting the mental wellness of Black youth.
In recognition of her work, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a donation to Black People Die By Suicide Too.