For the first time, mental health is taking centre stage at a UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, which will take place on September 25, 2025, at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York.
In the recent piece for Global Health NOW, “Youth and the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health: From Commitments to Action,” Nicole Bardikoff, Mental Health Lead at Grands Défis Canada, Aline Cossy-Gantner, Porfolio Manager for Mental Health at Fondation Botnar, et Sarah Kline, CEO at United for Global Mental Health explore how we reached this moment, and what must happen next.
They highlight:
- The urgent need to address the social, economic, and environmental drivers of mental health.
- How prevention and promotion during adolescence can shape healthier futures.
- Coordinated, multi-stakeholder action — such as the Being Initiative — is essential to turn commitments into tangible impact.
This week’s UN High-Level Meeting is a milestone and an opportunity to drive lasting change for young people’s mental health worldwide.
