Doha, Qatar: The United Nations on Wednesday unveiled a new global initiative focused on youth mental health during the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha. The initiative aims to strengthen the cognitive and psychological well-being of young people, empowering them to face modern challenges amid global uncertainty and rapid change.

Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, said the move marks the beginning of a major effort to link mental health with social development. “True progress requires shifting from treating symptoms to building inclusive systems that nurture care, creativity, and connection in schools, workplaces, and communities,” he said, noting that one in seven young people worldwide live with a mental health condition.

The initiative is built on three key principles - mental health as a human right, the belief that there is no future without well-being, and that care, connection, and community form the foundation of strong societies. Young leader Tanatswa Chikaura, founder of the Ndinewe Foundation, called for collective action to create empathy-led, inclusive communities, saying, “We should act not because people have died by suicide, but to prevent such tragedies.”