Mental Health and Well-being at the Heart of the SDGs: Concrete Means of Implementation
Celebrating a Historic Event
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by world leaders on 25 September 2015. The Agenda contains a promise to “promote mental health and well-being”. This side event at the United Nations was the first to focus on this promise.
The event brought together UN Ambassadors, representatives of the World Health Organization, the Clinton Global Initiative, the International Association of Applied Psychology, and civil society organizations from around the world. Presenters emphasized the centrality of mental health and well-being as the “heart of the 2030 Agenda”, highlighted the inter-linkages between mental health and well- being and other goals and targets, and presented concrete means of implementation featuring real programs serving real people.
The event was divided into three segments. The opening featured cultural performances by New York City youth and musicians together with welcoming remarks by H.E. Marc-André Blanchard (Canada), Ms. Daniela Bas (UN-DESA), H.E. Dr. Caleb Otto (Palau), and Dr. Judy Kuriansky (IAAP). The second segment featured a panel discussions on “Well-being at the Heart of the 2030 Agenda” moderated by H.E. Dr. Caleb Otto. The third segment, moderated by Dr. Kuriansky, featured cost-effective programs to be scaled up or replicated to deliver on the promise of mental health and well-being for all.
All speakers acknowledged in glowing terms the historic nature of the 2030 Agenda promise to end the suffering of millions of people left behind as a result of mental health conditions.
