At a side event during the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum on 14 April 2026, preliminary findings from a new inter‑agency report on what works for youth in health and mental health were presented. The exercise, a synthesis of evaluation evidence from over a decade of United Nations youth evaluations, provides critical evidence for advancing the United Nations Youth Strategy, Youth2030.
The report is co‑authored by the UNFPA Independent Evaluation Office and the UNICEF Evaluation Office, together with the United Nations Youth Office, UNDP, WHO, the EvalYouth Global Network, the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), and the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY). The synthesis draws on nearly 600 evaluations from 16 United Nations agencies, using AI‑supported analysis and is guided by thematic experts.
Opening the event, Her Excellency, Salma Agüero, Minister of Youth of Paraguay, shared how a pilot model of integrated adolescent care — combining psychological services, group workshops and mentorships — delivered more than 360 consultations in three months and catalysed a national mental health congress attended by over 6,000 young people. “Investing in youth is also trusting in their capacity to be part of the solution,” she said.
Presenting preliminary synthesis findings, Tami Aritomi from the UNICEF Evaluation Office highlighted emerging patterns from the evidence on what advances youth health and mental health. First, sustainable results are achieved by strengthening national health and mental health systems for young people rather than delivering standalone projects. Second, integrated approaches that connect youth health with education, social protection and community services consistently outperform siloed efforts. Third, partnerships across United Nations agencies, governments, civil society, and youth‑led organisations only deliver health outcomes for young people when they are institutionalised and sustained. Fourth, inclusion requires intent; reaching the most marginalised young people requires deliberate design, targeted investment and accountability.
Panelists unpacked what it would take to close those gaps. Zeinab Hijazi, Global Lead on Mental Health at UNICEF, pointed to a dire workforce shortfall, urging ministries of finance to be engaged with a multisectoral approach and clear monitoring frameworks, to ensure that mental health outcomes are measured and interventions can be assessed for their effectiveness on young people's mental health. Cécile Mazzacurati, Gender Advisor at UNFPA argued the field is “pilot‑rich but system‑poor,” calling for three shifts: from project funding to system financing; from siloed delivery to platform‑based delivery through schools and existing services; and from youth‑informed to youth‑led design. Josefin Pasanen from the Human Development Report Office at UNDP made the case for measuring subjective well‑being, warning that what is not measured becomes a policy blind spot.
Dr. Sameh Kamel from UNMGCY called on the United Nations and governments to transition young people from ‘target audiences or beneficiaries’, to active partners. This involves engaging youth as co‑designers, co‑implementers and co‑evaluators, backed by dedicated budgets for youth‑led organisations. Puneet Singh Singhal from the Global Network of Young Persons with Disabilities added that institutions need to design with, not for, marginalised communities, and to resist the pressure to scale before taking time to listen.
Vanesa Obregón Gonzales, Youth Delegate of Peru, emphasised that meaningful youth participation must be deliberately structured and grounded in trust — including trust that governments will safeguard young people's identity and data when they seek mental health support. Drawing on Peru's National Registry of Youth Organizations, which integrates nearly 2,000 youth groups (64% of which are led by women), she underscored gender inclusion as foundational rather than an add-on. "Presence does not equal power," she said. "Success should be measured not by how many young people are consulted, but by how much decision-making power they actually hold."
Closing the event, Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary‑General for Youth Affairs, urged a paradigm shift from treating symptoms to addressing root causes — through care, connection and community — and reminded participants that 75% of young people still fear speaking to someone about mental or emotional distress. “We need to meet this generation where they are,” he said. “This is their conversation.”
The synthesis report will be released in June 2026. The event recording is available here.
