The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) is organising a series of convenings to better understand stressors of mental health among young people and inform a call for proposals for funding a research-based approach to the challenge. Young people, particularly those with a lived experience in mental health and mental health advocates and researchers are invited to share their experience and expertise at the convenings.

The convenings are being organised for Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America as part of a USD $10.4 million partnership through Grand Challenges Canada to help SFA Foundation implement the Being Initiative in these regions.

Through the SFA Foundation, Being will fund longitudinal research programmes in low- and middle-income countries to understand and predict the long-term effects of stressors (such as COVID-19, urbanization, and emergency circumstances) on young people's mental health and wellbeing. The initiative seeks to improve the mental wellbeing of young people aged 10 to 24 in thirteen priority countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Vietnam.

Being recognises the importance of supporting local innovators, who better understand their communities, to develop solutions for the mental health challenges and engaging with young people whose experiences and perspectives can help create and drive a locally relevant mental health and wellbeing agenda.

The outcome of the discussions from the convenings will inform a call for proposals to be issued by the SFA Foundation in January 2024 and geared at addressing three of the most pressing challenges related to young people’s mental health:

1. Understanding how mental illness develops and the long-term impact of ‘emerging’ stressors on young people’s mental health and wellbeing
2. Identifying and recognising which young people are the most at risk of developing mental health conditions
3. Creating and delivering effective mental health interventions for young people

As a lead-up to the funding call, the November series of virtual convenings focused on youth mental health in Africa, Asia, and Latin America will provide a platform to engage with experts in the domain and better understand how Being can support challenges related to global mental health.

Please register for the convenings as per your country of interest below.

Webinar 1 | Monday, November 20, 2023 - Understanding Youth Mental Health Stressors Africa (Senegal Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Tanzania) & Romania

Register Here

Webinar 2 | Tuesday, November 21, 2023 - Understanding Youth Mental Health Stressors Asia (India, Pakistan, Indonesia & Vietnam)

Register Here

Webinar 3 | Wednesday, November 22, 2023 - Understanding Youth Mental Health Stressors South America (Ecuador, Colombia)

Register Here

About the SFA Foundation

The Science for Africa Foundation is a pan-African, non-profit and public charity organisation that supports, strengthens, and promotes science and innovation in Africa. The SFA Foundation serves the African research ecosystem by funding excellent ideas in research and innovation; enabling interdisciplinary collaborations and building and reinforcing environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge.

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