Being

Initiative

Being supports young people’s mental health by funding local, youth-led solutions focused on prevention, promotion, and addressing early drivers.

"Being" is a mental health initiative by Fondation Botnar, guided by the tagline "Evidence based, youth-led solutions to improving mental health." The programme works with young people (aged 10–24) across 12 low- and middle-income countries to improve their mental wellbeing through research, innovation, and ecosystem building, with an emphasis on prevention and promotion. Fondation Botnar delivers the initiative together with several partner organizations (see below).

Partners: Grand Challenges Canada, United for Global Mental Health, NIHR, Science for Africa Foundation, Orygen, Global Affairs Canada, National Institute for Health and Care Research UK
Working in: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Vietnam
Approach: Research, innovation
Focus: Youth mental health and wellbeing
Launched: 2022

Challenge

Mental health takes shape early. So should support.

Mental health conditions affect one in seven adolescents worldwide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds. Support is hard to find in many low- and middle-income countries, where up to 90% of young people's mental health needs go unmet. Globally, just 2% of national health budgets are spent on mental health. Behind these figures are young people left exposed to stigma, discrimination and social exclusion, at an age when the right support can shape the rest of their lives.

Over CAD 63 million invested in youth-led mental health innovation across 12 countries

Approach

Supporting young minds needs young perspectives

The Being initiative starts by listening – using locally driven consultations with young people, policymakers, practitioners and mental health experts to understand the factors affecting young people’s mental health. It uses those findings to guide investments in youth-led research, innovative solutions and national ecosystems, from peer-led school programmes to family and community interventions. Working with young people with lived experience, local and national authorities, and other partners, Being turns local evidence into action, and action into lasting, systemic change for young people’s mental health.

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