The new WHO Youth Council meet in Berlin
Orygen has become the first Australian organisation to join the World Health Organisation (WHO) Youth Council: a global network harnessing the insights and expertise of diverse young people to shape health policies and strategies.
The WHO Youth Council serves as the voice for more than 50 million youth from 24 youth organisations, providing advice on global health and other development issues from a youth perspective.
Membership for the Council is drawn from organisations which are youth-led or youth-focused, and for the first time an Australian organisation will be represented on the group, which actively engages with the WHO Director-General and senior WHO leadership.
The new WHO Youth Council
Nataya Branjerdporn from the Orygen Global team will represent Orygen at the WHO Youth Council annual meeting in Berlin, and said it was a huge honour to be representing the voices of young Australians on the Council.
“It’s amazing to be the first Australian organisation represented in this important international group,” Nataya said.
“It’s so important that mental health is part of the conversation when it comes to young people’s health around the world, and I’m proud to be here bringing Orygen’s expertise in youth mental health to a global audience.”
The WHO Youth Council has drafted the Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies, which was developed and designed by youth for building wellbeing resilience and trust. The Declaration, which calls for ensuring accessible and sustainable healthcare, transforming and elevating youth leadership and promoting health education and literacy has been presented directly to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, urging the WHO to drive political action.
Nataya said she looked forward to being part of designing and developing new initiatives and expanding the youth engagement activities of the WHO, and making connections with young people who are passionate about global health.
“Young people’s mental health is declining all over the world – not just in Australia,” Nataya said.
“I’m looking forward to joining with young people from around the world to learn from their different experiences and perspectives and work together to create a healthier future for young people everywhere.”
The new WHO Youth Council’s term runs from 2024 – 2026, with its first meeting taking place at the World Health Summit in Berlin.