Youth Mental Health and Well-being

Young people today are navigating a world of constant change — facing economic uncertainty, climate anxiety, armed conflict, social injustice and the pressures of a hyperconnected digital culture. These forces have a profound impact on how young people feel, live and thrive.

The global mental health crisis is one of the most urgent issues of our time, with over 1 billion people estimated to be living with a mental health disorder (WHO World Mental Health Report, 2022). According to the WHO Mental Health Atlas (2024), 1 in 2 people will develop a mental health disorder at some point in their lives.

Young people bear a disproportionate burden, with 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10-19 living with a mental health condition (WHO and UNICEF Guidance Note, 2024) and most mental health conditions expressing by the age of 24 (Kessler et al.). Suicide remains a leading cause of death among youth worldwide (WHO Suicide Key Facts). Yet stigma and unjust systems prevent many from getting the support they need. In low- and middle-income countries, young people face even greater barriers, with limited services and access to care.

Rethinking Youth Mental Health and Well-being: A Holistic, Inclusive Approach

Good mental health is not simply the absence of illness — it is the foundation for every person to learn, connect and contribute meaningfully to society. True well-being means feeling safe, valued and able to participate fully in family, community and cultural life. It is shaped not only by access to care, but by the environment in which we grow up, study, work and play. Promoting mental health, therefore, is not just a health agenda. It is a social, educational and economic imperative that speaks to human dignity and belonging.

Promoting youth well-being requires a holistic approach that goes beyond clinical responses, and investing in inclusive spaces where young people feel seen, heard and valued is one of the most powerful ways to get there. By prioritizing care, connection and community, we create conditions that unlock every young person's potential to thrive with dignity.

When young people feel connected — through sports, education, arts, civic engagement, intergenerational dialogue and more — they are more likely to flourish. Environments that nurture well-being are those that nurture emotional safety, build resilience, and protect against loneliness and despair.

Four young people

The Ecosystem Model for Youth Mental Health and Well-being

Mental health does not stand alone. It is shaped by the world around us — by our families and friendships, by schools and workplaces, by culture, technology and community. The ecosystem approach for youth mental health and well-being captures this truth: that a young person’s well-being depends on many systems working together to create a culture of care.

This model — grounded in youth agency and emphasizing care, connection and community — offers a flexible framework that can be adapted to local contexts and diverse cultures. It identifies ten key dimensions that influence youth mental health and well-being, highlighting how these dimensions interact to shape emotional, physical and social health.

A graphic titled “An Ecosystem Approach: From Treating Symptoms to Transforming Systems” on a gradient background of blue and green. On the left, a circular network diagram shows interconnected white nodes labeled: Care Connection Community, Education, Spirituality, Technology, Governance, Decent Work, Housing, Climate, Arts, Sports & Physical Activity, and Peace. Lines connect all nodes, illustrating interdependence.
Satisfactory psychological mental health is not the same as true well-being, and neither can be achieved alone. Young people thrive when supported by holistic, inclusive and youth-responsive ecosystems.

Key Dimensions of the Mental Health and Well-being Ecosystem

Inclusive, youth-led policies, institutions and participation mechanisms empower young people to engage and influence change in their communities.

Environments rooted in justice, safety, peaceful dialogue and social harmony create protective contexts for youth to heal, belong, and hope.

Inner reflection, meaning-making and spirituality nurtures compassion, purpose, connection, and emotional resilience.

Safe, inclusive, and stable housing is a foundation not only for physical security, but also for emotional security, dignity, identity and belonging.

Youth-centered climate action transforms anxiety and despair into agency, hope and emotional and physical well-being.

Supportive learning environments build self-worth, social connection, emotional development and resilience while tackling bullying, stress and social pressure.

Employment provides structure, purpose and security, supporting both economic and emotional well-being.

Digital spaces that are safe, inclusive, and free from hate, harassment and misinformation can protect against exclusion, discrimination, cyberbullying and identity distortion.

Creative expression fosters identity, emotional resilience and community connection.

Exercise and sports promote physical health, emotional regulation, social bonds and a sense of belonging.

Turning Commitment into Action

We are building a global movement to reimagine what it means to care — for ourselves, for one another, and for the environments where young people grow, learn and lead. We believe that true well-being starts with connection, grows through collaboration, takes shape through advocacy, and becomes real through action.

This is why we work to:

  • CONNECT communities and create spaces where young people belong and feel supported.
  • CONVENE diverse voices — youth, experts, and decision-makers — to co-create solutions.
  • ADVOCATE for systems and policies that make care accessible and inclusive.
  • ACT on commitments via youth-led and partner-driven initiatives to deliver impact on the ground.

Click on each element below to expand and learn more.

Good mental health starts with feeling seen, heard, and supported. CONNECT is about strengthening the social fabric that surrounds young people leading the way for better mental health and well-being. Click here to watch a video and hear directly from some of the young people that are already part of our community!

Are you a young person leading an initiative and interested in joining our community?

Submit this form to express interest

Change begins when voices come together. Through CONVENE, the UN Youth Office unites young people, youth-led and youth-serving organizations, advocates and experts to exchange ideas and co-design inclusive, youth-centered mental health solutions. From regional dialogues and global forums to grassroots capacity building, we’re reimagining how research, policy and lived experience connect.

Advocacy turns empathy into impact. Through the ADVOCATE component, we work with young leaders, public figures, governments and partners across the UN System and beyond, to ensure that youth mental health is not just acknowledged, but prioritized in national and global agendas.

Every action matters. ACT brings together youth, governments, and partners to put commitments into motion — translating ideas into local and global impact. We support local projects and pilot programmes that strengthen well-being ecosystems in schools, workplaces and communities, online and offline. From grassroots initiatives to national reforms, every action contributes to systems where young people can truly thrive with dignity.

A person in a light blue collared shirt is speaking into a handheld microphone against a gradient background of soft blue and green. To the upper right, there is a colorful circular icon representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Below, a quote in blue text reads: “There is no sustainable development without youth mental health and well-being — and without a generation that feels well, empowered and resilient in order to advance each and every SDG.” — Dr. Felipe Paullier.

A “One UN” System-wide Approach

The mental health and well-being of young people is a shared responsibility. The UN Youth Office works with partners across the UN system, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNESCO, OHCHR, and UNFPA, to advance a common vision and reinforce inclusive, youth-led and youth-responsive mental health and well-being ecosystems.

By centering young people’s voices and lived experience, this “One UN” collaboration turns global commitments into real, coordinated change, advocating for the conditions for youth everywhere to thrive.

In today’s complex and unpredictable world, young people need ecosystems that can help them not only withstand adversity, but also grow through it.

Academically Grounded and Co-created

Developed and validated with academic partners worldwide, the ecosystem model is grounded in evidence, cultural relevance and practical application. The institutions below contributed field expertise and insights that ensure scientific rigor and real-world impact.

Flourishing Network logo
Babcock University logo
O'Neill Institute logo
Saint Louis University logo
London School of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine logo
Young and resilient research centre logo
Dartmouth University logo
University of Cape Town logo
FISPPA logo

Latest Updates

In November 2025, the UN Youth Office, together with WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO, launched a Joint Call to Strengthen Policy for Child and Youth Mental Health and Well-being.

Click here to read the Joint Call

World Health Organization logo
UNICEF logo
UNESCO logo

Coming soon! A youth mental health and well-being report in partnership with UN UniversityInternational Institute for Global Health