PRESS BRIEFING
BY MONICA GRAYLEY,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRESIDENT DENNIS FRANCIS
United Nations Headquarters, New York
3 April 2024
Good afternoon, everyone!
I hope you are well today.
PGA: MEMBER STATES NEED TO INVEST FURTHER IN MENTAL HEALTH
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, spoke today at the event “Mental Health of Children and Young People: How Can We Do Better?”
The PGA highlighted that: “Globally, 1 in 7 people aged 10 -19 years are estimated to experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. Half of all mental health conditions begin before the age of 14, with 75% emerging by age 25 – and yet, in many cases remain undetected and untreated.”
More than 80% of all people with mental health disorders live in low-and middle-income countries.
President Francis said that “Member States need to invest further in strengthening national health systems, multisectoral promotion and prevention, and community-based mental health programmes and services.
Moreover, they should leverage digital technologies to strengthen the capacities of the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) workforce, with particular reference to the education sector.”
The PGA spoke also about the mental health crisis being exceptionally acute for children in conflicts and humanitarian emergencies including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti.
The event was chaired by the Permanent Representative of Romania, H.E. Cornel Feruta, and organized by other Permanent Missions with the support of UNICEF, the UN Youth Office and the World Health Organization.
Professor Andrew Solomon of Columbia University Medical Center, and Devora Kestel, Director of Mental Health and Substance Use at WHO, were keynote speakers.
For the PGA’s entire speech, please access his website on www.un.org/pga/78
PGA INVITES MEMBER STATES TO JOIN #CHOOSESUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN; PREPARES PRESS CONFERENCE FOR 9 APRIL
President Dennis Francis wrote to Member States inviting them to join his campaign #ChooseSustainability.
The campaign is promoting the first-ever “Sustainability Week” at the General Assembly, from 15-19 April, and is focusing on critical global challenges with respect to debt sustainability, tourism, transport, infrastructure, and energy, which are all key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The PGA is encouraging Permanent Missions staff and the general public to pledge to adopt sustainable practices.
Our social media channels are already displaying pledge cards for the #ChooseSustainability Campaign.
Everyone can also participate in the campaign via the Act Now mobile application (Act Now | United Nations), the United Nations’ campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals.
You are all invited to be here at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 9 April.
He will deliver short opening remarks and dedicate the rest of the time to your questions.
GA TO HOLD SEPRATE MEETINGS ON SECURITY COUNCIL VETOES
President Dennis Francis will convene a plenary meeting of the General Assembly, (under agenda item 63 entitled “use of the veto”), following the vetoes cast by two permanent members (during the 9584th meeting of the Security Council) on 22 March under the agenda item entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.”
The GA meeting will take place on 8 April at 10 a.m. in the GA Hall.
On 11 April, Member States will return to the GA Hall at 10:00 for another separate plenary meeting on the same agenda item under agenda item 63 entitled “use of the veto”, following the veto cast by one permanent member (during the 9591st meeting of the SC) on 28 March 2024 under the agenda item entitled “Non- proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”.
The PGA announced this meeting in a letter which was sent to Member States on 2 April.
This is everything we have for today. Tomorrow, we will not be here in person, but you will receive all updates in your mailbox. We will return to this room on Friday.
Do you have any questions?
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