What We Do
With a strong focus on young people’s connections, environments, and socioeconomic systems, we want to address the early drivers of young people’s mental health. We believe those closest to the challenges can better identify needs and barriers and offer impactful and sustainable solutions.
That’s why our funding priorities in research, innovation, and ecosystem building are guided by locally driven country analyses and consultations with youth, policymakers, local organizations, and mental health experts. Together, we’re actively shaping this exciting work and influencing change for young people’s wellbeing!
Young People First
The most important part about Being? Young people are at the heart of the initiative’s programming. They serve as program advisors, as key stakeholders in consultations, and as Being grows, youth-led organizations will be central to carrying out the work in each of the priority countries.
Who We Are
We’re hosted by Grand Challenges Canada (funded in part by the Government of Canada), in partnership with Fondation Botnar, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Science for Africa Foundation, and United for Global Mental Health.
Latest News
The Lancet Comment: “Why Cities Matter for Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing”
Led by Fondation Botnar, mental health practitioners, youth leaders, and researchers discussed the impact of urban environments on young people’s mental health in a comment on The Lancet titled “Why Cities Matter…
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Being at the World’s Largest Gathering for Adolescents
“We must center Youth leaders at the forefront of decision-making globally — the leadership of young people, especially those with lived experience of mental health challenges, is so important. In…
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World Mental Health Day 2023 Recap: Youth in Focus
World Mental Health Day was on Tuesday, October 10 of this week, marking the 75th anniversary of the World Federation for Mental Health. This year’s campaign recognized that mental health is…
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