Orygen advocacy, research and policy leaders joined global health experts to elevate youth mental health as a priority on the world stage, speaking at events alongside government ministers, WHO officials and youth advocates at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland this week.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, where 194 member states meet each year to set global health priorities and guide the WHO’s policy and strategy.
Orygen Global Director Craig Hodges led a delegation from Orygen including Orygen Global’s Zsofia Szlamka, Professor Jo Robinson, Head of Suicide Prevention Research at Orygen, Vivienne Browne, Orygen’s Director of Policy and Engagement, and Professor Rosie Purcell, Deputy Chief of Knowledge Translation.
Professor Robinson (pictured presenting above) addressed a packed house of member state representatives at an event titled Suicide prevention: a call for policy change and public health action, hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, United for Global Mental Health and the International Association of Suicide Prevention.
She spoke about the need for whole-of-government suicide prevention strategies and a stronger focus on digital opportunities and risks in responding to youth suicide, drawing upon findings from her world-leading #chatsafe program and other research in the area.
Vivienne Browne spoke about the ways the Australian Government has been enabled to respond strongly to youth mental health via evidence, data, economic investment case, lived experience involvement and partnerships in an event titled Accelerating Action and Investment in Youth Mental Health, hosted by member state South Africa, United for Global Mental Health, Foundation Botnar, Grand Challenges Canada and Orygen.
The team also attended the launch of the Lancet commission on child and adolescent health, which included a keynote speech from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and inspiring reflections from youth commissioners.
Orygen Global Director Craig Hodges (right) with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (centre) and other delegates.
Other events of note included the powerful Mental Health of Children and Youth in a Digital World, hosted by the Polish Mission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the official WHA side event in the Palais des Nations on the upcoming High Level Meeting in New York in September on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, with mental health and suicide prevention now prominent in the call to action for member states to endorse.
Vivienne Browne and Craig Hodges at the World Health Assembly.