UN Agencies Urge Global Action on Child and Youth Mental Health

UN agencies have called for a dedicated global policy to prioritize the mental health of children and youth, highlighting major policy gaps despite rising global recognition of mental health as a human right.

Currently, one in seven adolescents worldwide face mental health challenges, yet most go untreated. Only 56% of countries have dedicated child and youth mental health policies, according to WHO data.

UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, and the UN Youth Office have urged Member States to adopt national strategies, increase investment in prevention and early intervention, and include young people in policy development. They also called for a unified UN platform to coordinate global action and integrate mental health into future UN resolutions and monitoring systems.