News & Events

In October 2025, global health leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and researchers convened in the nation’s capital for a two-day A Call to Action for Youth Mental Health. The event served as the U.S. launch of the report of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, an international effort to address the urgent and escalating challenges facing adolescents worldwide. Hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health, the convening followed the World Health Assembly launch in May 2025. 

The next steps will be to continue collaborating with partners across the U.S. and the world to support the actions responsive to youth needs, including, 

• Integrate youth lived experience expertise into mental health research, policy, and practice
• Apply data-driven accountability for equitable access to quality care
• Shape urban environments to promote youth mental health
• Understand gendered drivers and tailored responses to support youth mental health
• Catalyze intersectoral engagement for youth mental health: health, education, and social support systems 

On July 23, 2024, the U.S. Global Mental Health Alliance, supported by CRD Associates, hosted an informational meeting at the Dirksen Senate Building in Washington, D.C. The event, titled "Mental Health: The World's Most Neglected Health Challenge," aimed to raise awareness among members of Congress, their staff, and other stakeholders about the global importance of mental health. Discussions highlighted its impact on overall wellbeing, physical health, and social/economic development. The meeting emphasized that while the technical capacity for cost-effective mental health programs exists, the primary barriers are a lack of political will and inadequate logistical and financial support.