Around the world, October marks the International Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that mental well-being is vital and that depression can take many different forms.
Inspired by this cause, YEAs from Albania joined UNICEF's Adolescents Advisory Board, in an open discussion aimed at raising awareness about this issue and promoting mental health support as a fundamental human right. The meeting was joined by the EU Delegation Ambassador in Albania, Mr. Silvio Gonzato, and UNICEF Albania Country Representative, Mr. Murat Sahin.
During his opening remarks the EU Ambassador stated, “There is no health without mental health. The EU treats mental health as a public policy priority linked to education, employment, and social inclusion. In Albania, we will keep supporting community-based services, youth participation in policy dialogue, and life skills for resilience, while sharing EU good practices across the region.”
On the other side, UNICEF's Country Representative delivered a strong call to action for young people, “Let's keep co-creating with youth, to build a future where every child feels safe, supported and empowered. Let's keep listening, co-creating, and acting, because youth are not just participants, they are the real change-makers”.
Through a youth-led dialogue, the event aimed to showcase youth perspectives from the latest U-Report poll findings on mental health, as well as to identify actions and commitments that support youth resilience and life skills development for wellbeing. The Young European Ambassadors jointly developed a set of recommendations for policymakers and relevant stakeholders on enhancing mental health support in schools and improving the design and monitoring of related policies.
It was an insightful experience that highlighted the vital importance of youth advocacy in fostering mental health resilience within local communities, while inspiring a deeper culture of compassion and empathy.
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