The Commonwealth Secretariat and the East, Central, and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC) have launched a significant mental health project to raise the standard of health of youths across nine countries in the region where mental health challenges in young people are on the rise.
Globally, WHO data shows that mental health conditions in young people represent a significant public health burden, with at least 13% of people between the ages of 10-19 diagnosed with a mental health disorder. In ECSA countries (many of which are Commonwealth countries), a survey shows that over 70% of young people have sleep disorders.
By integrating mental health with sports, arts, culture, and meaningful youth engagement, the project aims to contribute to broader efforts around building resilient health systems and societies across the Commonwealth.
The ECSA-Commonwealth Youth Mental Health Project aims to make mental health services accessible and affordable for young people in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Eswatini, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe to address conditions such as anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.
Addressing this worrying trend during the launch in Arusha, Tanzania, on 13 November 2024, the Acting Director General of ECSA-HC, Lilian Njuba, said:
“Mental health conditions among young people are now recognised as a major global public health issue. The rising incidence of mental health conditions in our region demands our urgent and coordinated actions, and it presents a significant global health challenge.”
She welcomed the collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Health Network (CYHN), Commonwealth Youth Sport Development and Peace Working Group (CYSDP), AMREF Health Africa and other regional partners, saying the project is a bold step towards “improving mental health in the region”.
Pathways to mental wellness: A multi-sectoral approach
The 2023 Youth-focused Guiding Framework for Physical Inactivity and Unhealthy Diets Report shows that 80% of the world's adolescent population is insufficiently physically active and at risk of premature death from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease. Mental health challenges in young people are also on the rise.
Referencing the report in the context of mental health, the Health Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr Janneth Mghamba,said:
“Our presence in Arusha emphasises the need for a multi-sectoral approach to these issues. Health challenges are complex and require the collaboration of multiple sectors—including health, sports, and education—to build a comprehensive support system.”
“By combining resources and expertise from various fields, we can create a stronger foundation for youth health initiatives and ensure they are resilient, sustainable, and inclusive of all aspects of young people’s lives.”
Participants discussed the importance of arts, culture and sports for sustainable development as avenues to prioritise the youth agenda within ECSA’s core work areas to ensure that young voices and priorities remain at the forefront of such initiatives. This will also be the focus of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and representatives from the Commonwealth youth networks who will play a critical role at the upcoming high-level ECSA Health Ministers Conference in Malawi in February 2025.
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Key outcomes and regional commitments
The ECSA-Commonwealth Youth Mental Health Project is one of the initiatives supported by the Commonwealth Year of Youth, which rallied collective action to maintain the momentum of building resilience and empowering the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people.
To realise its objectives, the project will run from November 2024 to December 2026. The first phase will involve developing a situational analysis survey to assess the current mental health landscape among young people (aged 18-29) and identify gaps and opportunities for addressing the challenges.
The second phase will consist of a series of intergenerational dialogues and webinars between young people and policymakers aimed at developing the ECSA regional guiding framework that incorporates youth voices and perspectives. These efforts will advance work towards establishing a network of mental health champions who will continue to advocate for peer-to-peer learning at the regional level.
Media contact
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Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
