Good mental health is a symptom of thriving and resilient communities and an enabler of development. Yet, across the world, a silent crisis is growing, and it particularly affects our young people.
A recent report noted that up to one in seven young people in sub-Saharan Africa face a significant mental health challenge, with depression and anxiety leading the numbers.
Widespread unemployment, strict cultural norms, and pervasive stigma often complicate the challenge and stop people from seeking help. In response, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) have joined forces for a long-term project to improve mental health support across the region.
The ECSA-Commonwealth Youth Mental Health Project was launched in November 2024 and is set to continue until December 2026.
Dr Janneth Mghamba, Health Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat, explained why the focus was important. She shared:
"Mental health challenges don’t just hurt individuals and families—they shrink our workforce, sap economic strength, and dull civic and environmental resilience. We must put youth at the heart of every solution, living by the mantra: ‘nothing for us, without us.’"
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A movement, not a moment
In August, on the sidelines of the Best Practices Forum in Mauritius, the two organisations convened a spirited policy dialogue with youth leaders and policymakers from Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The event challenged the participants to rethink the way youth mental health is viewed, supported, prioritised, and sustained.
The intergenerational forum revealed a gap: today’s policies, funding, and healthcare systems do not match the realities that young people face.
Youth voices at the forefront of project development
At the event, youth voices were focused and clear, calling for:
- Policies and legal frameworks that make mental health a national health priority
- Long-term, sustainable funding for youth mental health services
- Stronger prevention and early intervention, especially in schools and communities
The dialogue also sparked the development of four pillars of change:
- Governance & leadership: Young people encouraged and empowered to step up as leaders and shape policies and initiatives for themselves and their peers.
- Integrated service delivery: Mental health support that’s accessible, joined-up, and person-centred.
- Community resilience & prevention: Empowering communities to spot issues early, break stigma, and foster hope from the grassroots up.
- Youth-centric partnership: Meaningful collaboration where youth voices aren’t just heard, but drive action.
These pillars emphasise that young people are not passive recipients but actively designing and driving genuine change.
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The way forward
These pillars and insights from the discussion will also be incorporated in the development of a Regional Youth Mental Health Framework. The technical working group developing the framework is completing it for further consultation at the ECSA-HC Ministerial meeting in February 2026.
Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director General of ECSA-HC, underscored the urgency and scale of the ECSA-Commonwealth Youth Mental Health Project, saying:
"These discussions will feed into the recommendations made for the consideration of the government ministers when they meet in February 2026.
"ECSA-HC is committed to not only develop the regional framework but also to establish a Youth Mental Health Wing, launch the ECSA College for Mental Health Services and create a Regional Centre of Excellence dedicated to mental health."
The project began with an in-depth analysis of mental health realities among youth aged 18-29, identifying needs and opportunities which have informed the project’s design and delivery. Future phases will include additional intergenerational dialogues and webinars, emphasising the importance of lived experience in shaping the agreed approach.
An additional goal is to build and empower a robust network of youth mental health champions, ready to advocate, innovate, and drive progress towards a mentally healthy African continent.
Related content
- Commonwealth and ECSA join forces to improve mental health for African youth
- Learn more about our youth work
Media contact
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Charmaine Wright Head of Media Relations, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- +44 20 7747 6242 | E-mail
