YMCA is counting down to the third YMCA Youth-Led Solutions Summit on Mental Health and Wellbeing, to be held from 14:00 to 17:00 CET on World Mental Health Day, Sunday 10 October. Registration remains open until 23:59 Geneva time on Saturday 9 October.
The speakers are chosen, and include activists younger and older, and experts in the field of mental health.
Keynote speakers
- Rosie Thomas, CEO of Project Rockit
- Jeff Spar, Artist, Founder of Peace Love
Panelists
- Loizza Aquino, Mental Health activist
- Martin Johnson, YMCA Change Agent, Founder of Inside Our Minds
- Brenda Soriano-Villa, YMCA Greater Long Beach
- Bonginkosi Chiliza, President of the South African Society of Psychiatrists
- Chiara Servili, Medical Officer at World Health Organization
The event will feature two opening keynote speeches, an interactive panel discussion, and the launch of the two YMCA wellbeing initiatives – the Manifesto and the My Wellbeing digital platform – which Summit participants will then discuss and further build, in breakout groups.
The Manifesto
Putting youth in the driver’s seat: the World YMCA is working to change the cultural conversation about mental health in young people. By co-designing an Open Manifesto and set of Guiding Principles to promote youth mental health and wellbeing. With the idea that in order to change behaviour, perceptions and attitudes, you also need to change the conversation.
What is the ‘My Wellbeing’ digital tool?
People want community. People want connection. People want to express themselves.
‘My Wellbeing’ is a digital tool seeking to help the World YMCA Alliance explore the future of human connection and how youth express their mental health and wellbeing. We live in an increasingly complex world, where digitisation promises simplicity but where the future is still human.
‘My Wellbeing’ seeks to empower young people to take control of their mental health, help build a common language for mental health, and foster a safe and inclusive community for healthy minds, and a better understanding of mental health and wellbeing around the world.
See you soon at the Summit!