New york: When Dr. Sahira Al Nahari founded Shifa Art, a Saudi Arabia-based organization utilizing art to spark discussions around mental health, she observed that men attending her therapeutic art workshops often found it challenging to express their emotions. However, these workshops often begin with participants sketching football jerseys or their favorite teams, which gradually evolve into conversations about daily anxieties, illustrating how sport can facilitate discussions that traditional mental health approaches may struggle to initiate. According to United Nations, Dr. Al Nahari emphasized that on the field, no player triumphs alone, highlighting the collective effort involving defenders, midfielders, coaches, medics, and fans. She suggested that a similar ecosystem is necessary to address youth mental health issues. Speaking at the UN Headquarters alongside UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier, Dr. Al Nahari underscored the potential of sports to enhance youth mental hea lth outcomes and diminish stigma. On Friday, just two days before the Men's World Cup final in New Jersey, the UN Youth Office will convene young leaders, policymakers, civil society members, athletes, and others to celebrate football's role as a catalyst for youth mental health. This gathering is part of the Youth Office's flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Well-Being, which aims to broaden the conversation beyond clinical responses. In February, a UN report revealed that one in seven individuals aged 10 to 19 has a mental health condition, with 75% of adult mental health conditions manifesting by the mid-twenties. The report also highlighted a rise in depression among adolescents and young adults. It pointed out that youth mental health is significantly influenced by various inequalities and social determinants, such as education, employment, family dynamics, poverty, technology, and societal attitudes, all of which necessitate cross-sectoral policy interventions. Mr. Paullier noted that youn g people are navigating a complex world marked by digital disruption, economic uncertainty, armed conflict, displacement, and social isolation. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends interventions that foster resilience, provide alternatives to risky behaviors, integrate multiple delivery methods, and promote supportive social environments. Participation in sports is one such intervention. The UN report found that engaging in team sports is linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety across different countries, though many young people encounter obstacles to meaningful participation in sports. Football, as the world's most popular sport, can foster belonging and social connection, enhance emotional resilience, and promote inclusion and collective well-being. Mr. Paullier emphasized that football and sports are powerful messengers, capable of transforming narratives through their ability to connect people. Both speakers highlighted football's unique ability to serve as a universal language, offer ing young people a sense of belonging. Dr. Al Nahari pointed out that young people are actively developing effective solutions to support each other's mental health, and it is the responsibility of the UN and the international community to listen and collaborate with them. She stated that the youth themselves are the most crucial players, not waiting on the sidelines to be saved. The "One World, One Game, One Goal" event on Friday exemplifies football's potential to address social isolation, but it is only one aspect of the UN's multisectoral approach to tackling youth mental health globally. For instance, the WHO and UNICEF offer evidence-based frameworks to help governments implement effective psychosocial support programs in schools through the Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) initiative. Mr. Paullier stressed the importance of using not only sports but also other means to engage young people where they are. Despite the UN's efforts to raise awareness and support implementation programs for youth mental health, Mr. Paullier noted the need for improved funding. Most countries allocate less than 2% of their annual health budgets to mental health, resulting in a $200 billion financing gap, according to the WHO. Behind these figures are millions of young people bearing an often unseen, unspoken, and unsupported burden, Mr. Paullier remarked.
