Date & Location:

March 2025, AHAIC 2025 (Africa Health Agenda International Conference)

Summary:

At AHAIC 2025, Y-ACT led a powerful PoP (Point of Pride) session titled Healing Minds, Shaping Future, addressing the uncomfortable truths about African mental health. With the burden of mental health issues disproportionately affecting young people, the session called for urgent action to break the cycles of silence and stigma surrounding mental well-being. The conversation centered on how Africa’s future cannot be built while neglecting the next generation’s well-being. The session highlighted the high cost of inaction on mental health and the need to build systems that prioritize mental well-being. Solutions were presented, focusing on creating environments where young people can speak out, access support, and receive care without fear of judgment. Y-ACT stressed that Africa’s progress depends on the mental health of its youth, advocating for the inclusion of mental well-being in all conversations about the continent’s future.

Key Outcomes/Impact Points:

• Raised awareness about the mental health crisis facing young people in Africa
• Called for breaking the silence and stigma around mental health
• Presented solutions for building mental health systems that support young people
• Emphasized that Africa’s progress is tied to the well-being of its youth
• Advocated for the prioritization of mental health in all discussions about Africa’s future

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