Global * Youth * Call to Action on Mental Health
75%
of mental health issues before age 25
$390B
Lost yearly due to lack of mental health care
Only 2%
Of global health budgets go to mental health
The Global Youth Call to Action on Mental Health is a unified declaration by young people from across the world — calling on global leaders, institutions, and civil society to make mental health a priority in all areas of policy and investment. Co-created by UN Youth Delegates and youth leaders, this Call sets out five urgent priorities to improve youth mental health globally, highlighting the need for access, equity, education, and inclusion.
* 5 Demands *
1 - Well-being Driven by the Power of Education
Empower schools to become mental health champions.
2 - Conflicts, Climate and Youth Mental Health
Protect young minds in the face of war, disaster and uncertainty.
3 - Youth Well-being in the Digital Era
Create a safe, supportive, and transparent online world.
4 - Investing in Mental Healthcare and Human Potential
Make mental health a budget priority, not an afterthought.
5 - Leaving No One Behind
Mental health equity means including every voice, everywhere.
* Signatures *
Bringing mental health to the top of the global agenda will require a cross-sectoral, inter-generational and global approach. See which young leaders and representatives have signed and endorsed this call!
Co-Initiators of the GYCAM:
Georg Poensgen – Former United Nations Youth Delegate of Luxembourg to the 79th General Assembly; Representative of UN-MGCY to the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025
Veronika Novotná – United Nations Youth Delegate of Czechia
Co-Authors and Thematic Contributors:
Annamaria Wettstein – United Nations Youth Delegate of Hungary (Contributor to Chapter 4: Youth Well-Being in the Digital Era)
Oscar Lopez – Youth advocate from the United States
Ranchida Rojanakit – Youth advocate from Thailand
Linda Akitela Longole – African Union Youth Delegate
Cara Borg Aquilina – United Nations Youth Delegate of Malta
Natasha Maimba – United Nations Youth Delegate of Ireland
Vasil Samardzhiev – Youth advocate from Australia
Signed by:
- Amen Frew Messele, UN Youth Representative for Ethiopia under the African UN Youth Delegates Program
- Kapwani Kavenuke, UN Youth Representative for Tanzania under the African UN Youth Delegates Program
- Svetoslava Simeonova, UN Youth Delegate of Bulgaria
- Emily Karakoleva, UN Youth Delegate of Bulgaria
- Veronika Novotná, UN Youth Delegate of Czechia
- Giulia Cancellaro, UN Youth Delegate of Czechia
- Adina Nivukoski, UN Youth Delegate of Finland
- Audrey MacLean, German UN Youth Delegate for Sustainable Development
- Florian Brod, German UN Youth Delegate for Sustainable Development
- Stefanía Sigurdís Jóhönnudóttir, UN Youth Delegate of Iceland for Human Rights
- Natasha Maimba, UN Youth Delegate of Ireland
- Lauren Jones Brennan, UN Youth Delegate of Ireland
- Jennifer Borik, UN Youth Delegate of Israel
- Chiara Gisinti, UN Youth Delegate of Italy
- Andrea Granata, UN Youth Delegate of Italy
- Alexandra Somesan, UN Youth Delegate of Luxembourg
- Hanna Misniakiewicz, UN Youth Delegate of Poland
- Monika Zimnoch, UN Youth Delegate of Poland
- Max Davidović, UN Youth Delegate of Slovenia
- Pleun Vaartjes, UN Youth Representative of Switzerland
- Flora Chiper, Swiss UN Youth Representative
- Clara Ehrenzeller, WHO Youth Delegate of Switzerland
- Tomoko Ikuta, UN Youth Delegate of Thailand
- Ranchida Rojanakit, Youth Advocate from Thailand
- Tanushree Jain, WHO Youth Council Representative
- Nataya Branjerdporn, WHO Youth Council Representative
- Katja Čič, WHO Youth Council Representative
- Carlotta Carboni, WHO Youth Council Representative
- Kate N’Docko, WHO Youth Council Representative
- Adham Sleem, Youth Advocate
- Oscar Lopez, Youth Advocate from the United States of America
- Vasil Samardzhiev, Youth Advocate from Australia
- Georg Poensgen, Youth Advocate from Luxembourg
With the technical input and contributions of:
- Murilo Slomka – Youth Representative from Brazil, Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN)
- European Federation of Psychology Students’ Associations (EFPSA)
- The McGill Youth Advisory Delegation (the International Relations Students’ Assocation of McGill – ECOSOC-Accredited)
- Dr. Chiara Servili – Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use , World Health Organization (WHO)
- Dr. Anne De Graaff – Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, (WHO)
- Dr. Brandon Gray – Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, WHO
- Dr. Trinette Lee – Technical Officer, WHO
- Ms. Dorine van der Wal – Youth Engagement Focal Point, WHO
- Aviwe Funani – Senior Officer, United for Global Mental Health
- Kate Ndocko – WHO Youth Council Member & Public Health Resident
- Ildikó Meny – Mental Health Expert & Youth Engagement Expert
