Global Mental Health Action Network

?? Save the Date! The Global Mental Health Action Network's (GMHAN) next Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum will take place in Iloilo City, in the beautiful Philippines, from 2-4 February 2026! ?? Our Advocacy Forums are the world’s largest convenings of mental health advocates and civil society organisations! Over 3 days, we will spotlight the incredible initiatives being developed within local communities, at a national level, regionally and globally. We’ll also be highlighting the breadth and depth of advocacy work taking place across the network as we’re doubling down on our work towards our “Vision 2035”! We're looking forward to collaborating with local members and partners leading transformative work in the region to make this special event possible! ?? Read our strategy here: https://lnkd.in/dCJ2Emuq Members of the network attending the forum will have special access to: ?? The latest news and updates from the sector? ?? Networking opportunities with changemakers, thought-leaders and funders? ?? Dedicated spaces to exchange expertise with peers from all parts of the world Join GMHAN today to receive all of the exciting updates about the 4th Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum! ?? : https://lnkd.in/ezKW-WkP We are committed to working towards a more equitable future, with a fairer distribution of power and influence within the sector. The Advocacy Forum provides a collaborative and accessible spaces for all mental health advocates, particularly for those who are often excluded from international conferences and gatherings. We’ll be bringing together activists, grassroots organisations, practitioners, researchers, UN agencies and donors to strengthen the world’s capacity for mental health advocacy and drive action where it matters most! This will be a hybrid event allowing for both in-person and virtual participation - and everyone is welcome to join! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! #MHForAll #MHAdvocacyForum #GMHAN2026

?? Save the Date! The Global Mental Health Action Network's (GMHAN) next Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum will take place in Iloilo City, in the beautiful Philippines, from 2-4 February 2026! ?? Our Advocacy Forums are the world’s largest convenings of mental health advocates and civil society organisations! Over 3 days, we will spotlight the incredible initiatives being developed within local communities, at a national level, regionally and globally. We’ll also be highlighting the breadth and depth of advocacy work taking place across the network as we’re doubling down on our work towards our “Vision 2035”! We're looking forward to collaborating with local members and partners leading transformative work in the region to make this special event possible! ?? Read our strategy here: https://lnkd.in/dCJ2Emuq Members of the network attending the forum will have special access to: ?? The latest news and updates from the sector? ?? Networking opportunities with changemakers, thought-leaders and funders? ?? Dedicated spaces to exchange expertise with peers from all parts of the world Join GMHAN today to receive all of the exciting updates about the 4th Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum! ?? : https://lnkd.in/ezKW-WkP We are committed to working towards a more equitable future, with a fairer distribution of power and influence within the sector. The Advocacy Forum provides a collaborative and accessible spaces for all mental health advocates, particularly for those who are often excluded from international conferences and gatherings. We’ll be bringing together activists, grassroots organisations, practitioners, researchers, UN agencies and donors to strengthen the world’s capacity for mental health advocacy and drive action where it matters most! This will be a hybrid event allowing for both in-person and virtual participation - and everyone is welcome to join! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! #MHForAll #MHAdvocacyForum #GMHAN2026

At the International Association for Suicide Prevention's Pan-American Conference, the Caribbean coalition rallied for decriminalisation of suicide across the Americas. Decriminalisation of suicide decreases stigma, reduces obstacles to seeking mental healthcare, and improves data collection which leads to efficient investment in suicide prevention programmes. Connect with the Coalition on all socials @thecsdcoalition to join us on this journey to safeguard the right to health and wellbeing, and to ensure that vulnerable people receive the support they need. Desarie Nicholas, LCSWDavid Johnson, M.D.Leon Cherry Emily Anna Bachan Reseda Ramkhelawan United for Global Mental Health #DecriminalizeSuicide #CSDCoalition #MentalHealthIsARight #IASPMINNEAPOLIS2024

Day 1 of the Global Gathering was full of inspiration and connection. ?? We're sharing our key highlights here! ?? ?? A keynote panel with Yasmine Smires, UNICEF Maroc, Marielle Sander, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Maroc, Melani O'Leary, Grand Challenges Canada and Friendship Bench Zimbabwe's Providence J. explored valuable insights on mental health support for young people, including in crisis settings and shifting narratives by including young people directly in leading and designing programs. Providence Jongwedzvuku (Friendship Bench) also shared 4 key ingredients to scale mental health innovation: 1.?Engaging community leaders to shape locally relevant, inclusive innovations. 2.?Research and evidence to inform programs. 3.?Innovation and amplifying innovative approaches. 4.?Scaling strong partnerships to accelerate impact and secure funding sources. ??? Innovators showcased their projects in interactive presentations and shared best practices and lessons learned with their peers in a collaborative format. Participants walked away with stronger connections. "Today we come to know that we can learn from each other," said one participant. With so many outstanding innovators in attendance from Grand Challenges Canada's Global Mental Health portfolio it’s hard to spotlight only a few, but here are some memorable moments from the presentations: ?? "When you open wounds, you close them again." Rand Baba of the Tamer Institute for Community Education describes how their youth-led mental health ERs and community libraries across Gaza and the West Bank create immediate support networks in crisis settings. Rand emphasized how storytelling and safe learning spaces empower youth to express themselves, helping to combat trauma and the ongoing mental health crisis in Palestine. ??"[We’re] strengthening, not building resilience, because people are already resilient."??Wanjiku W. from Green String Network, leading the Ustawi program in Kenya, offered an important reminder of the need to respect communities' inherent strengths and build on their existing capacities. ????"Youth mental health is not a monolith. When reaching out to vulnerable groups; approaches must be tailored." Mason Viet Trinh from Lighthouse Social Enterprise (Doanh Nghi?p X? h?i H?i ??ng) Vietnam, a peer-led mental health initiative for LGBTQI+ youth in Vietnam, emphasized that youth face unique challenges requiring solutions rooted in their experiences and contexts. ?? "When you think about youth populations, do not disregard young persons with disabilities." A powerful reminder from Uttam Kumar of Sense International India, who works with children and youth with deaf-blindness in India. ?? ?“With the combination of innovation and empathy, we can change the lives of young people.” Reinserta shared the powerful stories and lessons from their work with young people whose lives have been marked by violence in Mexico. #BeingConnected Orygen

In October,?we launched a bold?NEW, long-term, strategic vision and mission for the Global Mental Health Action Network. With over 5,000 members from 165+ countries and?3,000+ organisations, the Global Mental Health Action Network is a?free-to-join community?driving change through: ?? 9 thematic working groups ?? 4 short-term action groups ?? A commitment to redistribute power and reshape the future of global mental health Over the coming years, GMHAN will: -Nurture our growing community of changemakers -Champion diverse leadership -Strengthen the world’s capacity for mental health advocacy -Drive 'Global to Local implementation' and 'Local to Global influence' at scale One member shared:?“In a field where everything feels so siloed and disjointed at times, this strategy is truly a breath of fresh air and an renewal of optimism to see an organisation like United for Global Mental Health and the Global Mental Health Action Network- creating a network - no, a community, really - of mental health advocates where strength and solidarity can truly be found in each other." Read the full Strategy and the ‘2035 vision’ here: https://lnkd.in/dCJ2Emuq Join the Action Network and get involved in its?diverse range of working groups and short term action groups here: https://lnkd.in/ezKW-WkP #MentalHealthMatters

??#ICYMI The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Transforming Mental Health Implementation Research explores innovative strategies to transform research into actionable evidence for better mental health outcomes. ??Dive into it here: https://lnkd.in/gvg_idg4 Earlier this year, we joined a webinar hosted by United for Global Mental Health and the Global Mental Health Action Network to discuss #mentalhealth implementation research. The session, chaired by Being’s Youth Advisor Jihad Bnimoussa, featured insightful contributions from UNICEF, Columbia University, and Sahil Chopra from Grand Challenges Canada, who highlighted findings from our landscape analysis report. Missed it? ?? Rewatch the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/dEsGdBN7

***Content advisory – this post and video contains references to suicide*** I’ve recorded a short video for Men’s Health Awareness Month, and I’ve chosen the topic of suicide as it’s something that I have a reasonable level of knowledge about. If you watch the video, which is about three minutes long, you’ll find out why it’s important for a number of reasons. I appreciate this can be a difficult subject to broach, so please feel free to post a question in the comments and I’ll do my best to get back to you. I mention a Ted Talk by Mark Henick in this video, which I’ll share a link to. Thoughts with anyone going through a tough time right now. LinkedIn is generally a supportive community from what I’ve seen and can lighten the load at times. #suicide #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #mentalhealth #menshealthawarenessmonth Mark Henick Time to Change Wales Helpu Cymru Global Mental Health Action Network

Com a #COP29 a menos de uma semana, a Global Climate and Health Alliance apresentou 9 recomenda??es da comunidade internacional de saúde e clima. Nós, da SoulBeeGood, temos orgulho em apoiar e endossar essas recomenda??es como parte de nossos esfor?os para garantir que a saúde mental seja integrada nas discuss?es sobre clima e saúde na COP29. As recomenda??es propostas incluem: ? RELATóRIO DE IMPLEMENTA??O: Definir mecanismos para permitir o acompanhamento e a apresenta??o de relatórios sobre as prioridades de a??o climática e de saúde acordadas na Declara??o de COP28 nos Emirados árabes Unidos. ?? COERêNCIA POLíTICA: Incorporar a??es e metas de saúde e clima, bem como considera??es econ?micas associadas, nas NDCs e outras políticas nacionais, com apoio de uma coordena??o intersetorial fortalecida. ?? FINANCIAMENTO TRANSFORMADOR: Adotar uma Nova Meta Quantificada Coletiva (NCQG) sobre financiamento climático de quantidade e qualidade necessárias, sem a qual a??es climáticas que promovam a saúde ser?o inviáveis. ?? TRANSI??O ENERGéTICA JUSTA: Comprometer-se com a elimina??o rápida, justa, total e financiada dos combustíveis fósseis, incluindo a interrup??o imediata da expans?o da produ??o e infraestrutura de combustíveis fósseis, e uma transi??o justa e rápida para energias renováveis como uma prioridade de saúde pública. ?? ADAPTA??O HOLíSTICA: Estabelecer bases para o planejamento e monitoramento da adapta??o que reflita os resultados na saúde física e mental e no bem-estar. ? RESPOSTA A PERDAS E DANOS: Criar fundamentos para o planejamento e monitoramento de adapta??o que considerem os resultados para a saúde física e mental e o bem-estar. ?? AGRICULTURA E ECOSSISTEMAS RESILIENTES E SUSTENTáVEIS: Priorizar sistemas alimentares e agrícolas e o uso da terra que promovam a seguran?a nutricional e a biodiversidade, incluindo dietas saudáveis sustentáveis que sejam acessíveis e econ?micas. ? INTEGRIDADE REFOR?ADA: Gerenciar conflitos de interesse através do fortalecimento de políticas para reduzir a influência indevida de poluidores que prejudicam a saúde e o clima nas decis?es da UNFCCC. ?? COLABORA??O COM COMUNIDADES MAIS IMPACTADAS: Criar ambientes que possibilitem orienta??es para a??es climáticas saudáveis por meio do engajamento seguro e significativo das comunidades mais afetadas. Esse mês de novembro teremos importantes marcos no Advocacy Global, esperamos fortalecer essas frentes também para o #G20 e #COP30 ano que vem, junto com a Juliana Fleury, Milena Sergeeva o Vertentes Ecossistema de Saúde Mental e a Global Mental Health Action Network. Muito obrigado Alessandro Massazza pelo compartilhamento #SaúdeMental #Mudan?asClimáticas #Advocacy

We’ve arrived in Morocco for the Being Global Gathering, #BeingConnected, which will be hosted at the Fondation Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé and we couldn’t be more excited! ?? This unique event, organized by our partner and Being’s Learning and Support Platform Orygen is bringing together youth mental health innovators from Grand Challenges Canada’s Global Mental Health portfolio, advocates, and partners from across the globe for three days of discussions, workshops, and activities focused on learning, sharing, and building connections to support and strengthen youth mental health innovations. ? Follow along here for daily updates and highlights—you won’t want to miss the inspiration, lessons, and connections emerging from this gathering! Learn more about the role of the Learning and Support platform: https://lnkd.in/d5szM4qN #BeingConnected #YouthMentalHealth #GlobalInnovation Orygen Grand Challenges Canada, Fondation Botnar, United for Global Mental Health, NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), Science for Africa Foundation, Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, Fondation Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé

At #COP29, the voices of young people are critical in shaping the future of climate action and mental health. Ayomide Olude from Lagos, Nigeria, representing SustyVibes, shares why centering young people in these discussions is so important. "Children and young people are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis—it affects their well-being and ability to thrive. By addressing this, we can build a resilient, healthy generation ready to lead and create change." Let’s ensure youth voices are heard and mental health is prioritised in climate discussions. ?? #ClimateAction #MentalHealthMatters #YouthVoices UN Climate Change Climate Cares - Imperial College London American Psychological Association The George Institute for Global Health Wellcome Trust World Health Organization UNICEF