In a significant move announced on World Mental Health Day, the Z Zurich Foundation and UNICEF have renewed their global partnership, Thriving Together, with the goal of expanding efforts to promote mental health and well-being among young people. Over the next three years, this renewed collaboration aims to reach an additional 11 million individuals.
The partnership adopts a system-change approach, targeting government, community, and individual levels to bolster the capacity of countries in addressing youth mental health issues while also focusing on preventing mental health disorders. Central to this initiative is a suite of program tools that have been collaboratively developed and field-tested, offering both innovative in-person and digital interventions. Adolescents and caregivers will gain access to valuable information, skills, and strategies to enhance their mental well-being.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “For too long, the mental health of children and youth has been sidelined and underfunded. Yet we know that investment in mental health can yield massive benefits for children, adolescents, families, and entire societies. We are grateful for the continued partnership with the Z Zurich Foundation to support healthier futures through improved mental health and well-being for all.”
Statistics reveal a pressing need for such initiatives, with an estimated one in seven adolescents aged 10-19 living with a diagnosable mental health condition. Notably, fifty percent of mental health conditions develop before the age of 14. While adolescence poses heightened risks for mental health issues, it is also a crucial period for cultivating healthy behaviors and social-emotional skills.
Grégory Renand, Head of the Z Zurich Foundation, highlighted the partnership’s objectives, stating, “Together with UNICEF, we are addressing the invisible crisis of youth mental well-being by transforming systems and creating sustainable change. The resounding success of the first phase has demonstrated the profound impact of our strategic partnership, empowering key stakeholders to tailor solutions to support young people’s mental health and well-being. With the launch of the second phase, we are poised to accelerate this impact at an unprecedented scale, ensuring sustainable mental well-being for even more young people around the world.”
This partnership builds on a successful initial three-year phase that empowered over 900,000 adolescents and caregivers to improve their mental health and well-being. Countries worldwide have begun to adopt and implement the program tools and approaches promoted through this collaboration, showcasing its potential as a catalyst for broader global impact.
In response to growing global demand, the partnership is expanding its geographic reach from seven to 15 program countries, now including Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, and Vietnam. The partnership will scale its impact by strengthening policy actions and programmatic interventions across digital, school, and community platforms, aiming to reach vulnerable groups such as migrant and refugee communities. The goal is to support at least 11 million individuals by 2027.
As a member of the UNICEF-led Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health, the Z Zurich Foundation will continue advocating for increased investment and action. This Coalition, launched with the support of the Z Zurich Foundation, consists of UNICEF’s private sector partners committed to addressing the growing mental health challenges faced by children and young people, calling for necessary investments and actions in this critical area.
Related topics:
