Mental Health Fitness Through a Youth Perspective 

“By cultivating a practice of self-awareness — through understanding myself and my internal needs better, I’m able to show up for myself in the ways that I need in those moments of struggle.”

Kayla Coetzer, 24, South Africa

“In this fast-paced world, it's important to take a step back, disconnect from the digital world, and engage with friends…try helping others and don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed.”

Spyros Chronis, 20, Greece

“I honor my journey by normalizing help‑seeking and reminding myself that mental health is an ongoing process that requires care, patience, and the courage to choose growth, even in environments where it is not always encouraged.”

Jennifer Matibi, 24, South Africa

“For me, keeping my mental health fit is about understanding and embracing my talents and weaknesses, and dedicating time to spaces that value my uniqueness.”

Mariana Rodrigues Chaves, 18, Brazil

“I try to find ways to ground myself and do things that people my age typically do. Making mistakes is acceptable and often necessary for personal growth.”

Faidra Kamperidi, 19, Greece

“Young people can build mental health fitness in their everyday lives through self-care, doing things that energize and restore them, practicing self-compassion, and surrounding themselves with supportive people. It’s about creating small, consistent habits that allow you to show up for yourself, even on hard days.”

Delice Lumbu, 20, Director of Youth Engagement, SNF Global Center

“Global collaboration in youth mental health means real change to me. When countries unite around one shared goal — safeguarding young people's mental health — they're investing in their own future.”

Denny Oliveira Curini, 17, Brazil

“Mental health challenges are deeply influenced by social, economic, and cultural conditions, and real growth happens when solutions are shaped within those contexts. Global collaboration creates opportunities to share lived experiences, exchange practical knowledge, and adapt tools that are both relevant and accessible. It allows us to learn from one another across borders while empowering communities with skills, resources, and frameworks that support mental growth. From my experience, collaboration is not about imposing solutions, but about co‑creating safe, healthy spaces that enable young people to build resilience, develop agency, and flourish even in environments where those opportunities are often limited.”

Jennifer Matibi, 24, South Africa

“To me, global collaboration in youth mental health represents a shift from pockets of innovation to a ‘culture of quality’ that doesn't stop at a country's border. It's the recognition that while mental health struggles are a rising universal problem, the solutions are often trapped in local silos or limited by a country's wealth. Therefore, global partnership is the bridge that allows solutions to be shaped, shared, adapted, and standardized to ensure that no one is left behind.”

Spyros Chronis, 20, Greece

“Global collaboration in youth mental health means bringing different regions’ perspectives [together] to debate and understand our similarities and differences, to then work on solutions that cross borders and change lives.”

Mariana Rodrigues Chaves, 18, Brazil

“Nowadays, young people tend to feel overwhelmed by the excessive pace of technological evolution. The constant stimuli and the pervasive flow of information put us in a position where we constantly compare ourselves to others, feeling that our efforts are never enough compared to what we see online. Together, let's set a human example: Progress can be gradual, and it is perfectly okay to feel like you are falling behind.”

Faidra Kamperidi, 19, Greece

“Global collaboration in youth mental health means looking at shared challenges and pooling resources to tackle them together, while keeping cultural uniqueness at the forefront of country-specific solutions and care.”

Kayla Coetzer, 24, South Africa