In 2025, mental health has become the silent signal of our societies. A quiet battleground playing out in the privacy of our phones, our homes, our schools and our communities. The weight of a world upended by crises and climate change, along with instabilities and uncertainties, can sometimes prove too heavy to carry.
Yet, this same signal is now turning into a siren- a rallying call across generations to forge stronger bonds and overcome polarisation, to build empathy for the other and to ensure that our collective struggles are met with the right solutions.
Every year, World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a powerful reminder that inclusive and sustainable human development cannot be realised without mental health and well-being. Across the world, countries are making strides, recognising this as a right, not just a privilege. The UN has been steadily working alongside governments, civil society, youth leaders, academia and the private sector to lead these efforts.