Creating Pathways to Youth Involvement in the High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health
This year, we have been facing a rare opportunity for mental health to be at the core of a United Nations High-Level Meeting. This High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health is convened by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to help governments reach agreements and make commitments on global issues. Over the last 20 years, several health issues have been prioritised on the global agenda through HLMs at the UNGA, and there have been 3 HLMs focused on NCDs in the past, but never on mental health.
From the start of our journey, at GMHAN, we made one of our key aims to facilitate leadership, solidarity and advocacy by youth. We invited young professionals to our STAG, made sure that their priorities were reflected in our collective global priorities, and facilitated them to be front and centre in important meetings and events in the decision-making rooms of New York and Geneva, as well as at WHO’s Youth Multi-Stakeholder Hearing.
→ Read Alexandra’s blog: “Youth Voices at the UN: Reflections from the High-Level Meeting Advocacy Week”
Even though for many of our youth partners, these were the first times that they were using their voice in such high-level settings, we worked with them to ensure that they were not there just to observe. They were there to contribute, think critically, share their perspectives, and advocate for the beliefs, values and communities they care about. In doing so, together we once again disrupted how power and voice are used and shared in those traditional global settings.
This year, young people engaged and took leadership roles on the road to the High-Level Meeting by:
✦ Taking part in the Young Professionals multi-stakeholder hearing, run by the World Health Organization. → Read Reflections from GMHAN participants at the youth multi-stakeholder hearing.
✦ Contributing to the critical document by UNICEF on: “Placing Children at the Heart of the NCD and Mental Health Agenda”
✦ Participating in UNICEF’s inter-generational panel event on May 1st in New York, which brought young people to the forefront of advocating for change in mental health with member states in the audience - the event was co-sponsored by United for Global Mental Health and the Global Mental Health Action Network.
→ Read Yana’s Spotlight: “Raising Our Voices for Mental Health at the multi-stakeholder hearing ahead of the UN HLM on NCDs and Mental Health”.
→ Read Mariyam’s Spotlight: “Raising Our Voices for Mental Health at the multi-stakeholder hearing ahead of the UN HLM on NCDs and Mental Health”.
✦ Leading the “Kigali Youth Declaration” at the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum. Read Gina’s blog on the GMHAN website: Why We Should All Back the Kigali Youth Declaration and the Call to Lead
✦ Contributing stories about Bridging the divide between NCDs and mental health, in a powerful new compendium of knowledge led by the MHPSS Collaborative.
✦ Producing the WHO Youth Council’s declaration on creating healthier societies globally.
Youth advocates from GMHAN’s HLM STAG took centre stage when it mattered most through the facilitation of the Global Mental Health Action Network:
▶ Watch our GMHAN youth leader, Stephanie Whiteman, opening the Multi-Stakeholder Hearing at the United Nations.
▶ Watch GMHAN’s Child & Youth Working Group Co-Chair, Muskan Lamba, making a statement at the United Nations on behalf of GMHAN.
