GEORGIA MASCARENHAS

Georgia is a young entrepreneur based in Sydney, Australia. 

Her journey has taken many unpredictable turns, though it is within these challenges that she has found her resilience, persistence and success.

Georgia speaks very openly about her struggles with mental health and it's where the life changing venture of YANA Club begun.

Georgia first felt the effects of mental illness at age 17 where she was suffering with undiagnosed depression, anxiety and narcolepsy. 

Like most mental illness stories, it took a long time for any appropriate diagnosis and treatment. 

GP's didn't believe she was depressed nor anxious until she had to firmly request the referral to a psychologist. 

Waiting for up to 6 months for an appointment with a sleep specialist after years of battling with chronic fatigue to be told that it was just her depression making her tired and that she would benefit from meditation and yoga  . . . . 7 years later she was diagnosed with narcolepsy. A diagnosis that should have and could have been made in 2014.

Her passion for mental health and helping others grew from these experiences and it was only the start. 

April 2021 Georgia had a life changing experience where she was stopped in the street to help a man in severe distress. Georgia calmed the man just enough for him to tell her that he had tried to take his life the night before by taking a bunch of pills. He stopped Georgia because he followed her YANA Club page on instagram and knew she'd be able to help. After some convincing, she took him to hospital where he later admitted he would not have stopped anyone else. He felt like it was the universe helping him as he saw me walk by as he had already decided he would not contact any friends or family for help.

This showed the deep power in speaking up and being open about our struggles. She was a safe space for this man to ask for help and this is what the world needed.

Georgia now is happily managing life. With a wonderful partner, a crazy cat Ziggy and days spent working on YANA Club, Designs by GKM and all the other good things in life like moving the body, coffee, naps, the sun and ocean.