In 2022, UNICEF and WHO launched a catalytic Joint Programme on Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being and Development of Children and Adolescents. This strategic partnership accelerates country-level action to deliver systemic change at scale— with focus on promoting nurturing environments and improved access to quality mental health promotion, protection and care for young people.

Since its launch, the Joint Programme has been working across 13 countries: Albania, Bhutan, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guyana, Jordan, Egypt, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, and Serbia.

Over 6 million young people were reached with promotion and prevention programmes, more than 10 million children and young people have access to improved quality mental health services each year,  and at least 330,000 children and adolescents received psychosocial support and care for mental and neurodevelopmental conditions.