UN Report: Youth well-being in an uncertain world
More than 2.6 billion young people between 15 and 35 are coming of age amid profound uncertainty, facing intersecting pressures from economic insecurity, climate change, armed conflict, inequality and a rapidly evolving digital environment. A new report from the United Nations Youth Office and United Nations University International Institute for Global Health calls for a fundamental shift in how youth mental health and well-being are understood and addressed — from a primary focus on individual diagnosis and treatment towards the social, economic and environmental conditions that shape young people’s lives.
Youth Mental Health & Well-Being in an Uncertain World: A Global Call to Action, launched in September 2026 during United Nations High-Level Week, argues that promoting youth mental health requires strengthening the interconnected systems in which young people grow, learn, work and connect.
Economic uncertainty, conflict, climate change, inequality and digital transformation all shape how young people live and learn. A new report from the United Nations Youth Office and UNU International Institute for Global Health calls for a more connected approach to youth mental health and well-being, linking education with wider social, economic and environmental conditions.