The UN Youth Office has published a new report, Youth Mental Health and Well-being in an Uncertain World, looking at what shapes how young people feel and what helps them thrive.
One of its central findings is that young people’s mental health is closely tied to the world around them. 6 in 10 young people say they personally faced systemic challenges in the past year, with economic instability and climate change among the most common (UNICEF Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health).
The report also highlights what makes a difference. Stating that “youth cannot realize well-being in isolation”, the report points to care, connection and community as key to young people’s well-being, with young people themselves playing a leading role.
These ideas have shaped our work from the start, with our Resilience Circles and People, Planet, Pop-Ups designed to bring young people together to talk openly about how the climate crisis makes them feel and to take action together. Seeing this recognised at a global level is a reminder of how much these spaces matter. We hope it leads to more support for community spaces like these, so that more young people can find them.
