Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

High-level event ¡°One World, One Game, One Goal¡± brings together global leaders, young people, partners and the football community to champion youth mental health and well-being.

NEW YORK, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters, 17 July 2026

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Office today launched Real People, Real Talk, a new global advocacy campaign that seeks to elevate authentic stories, challenge stigma and spark a global conversation on youth mental health and well-being. Unveiled at a high-level event at United Nations Headquarters, the campaign calls on people everywhere to listen, speak openly and help create environments where every young person can thrive.

The launch took place during One World, One Game, One Goal, hosted by the United Nations Youth Office together with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States Friends of Football, on the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. Bringing together governments, United Nations leaders, young people, athletes, football legends, civil society and private sector partners, the event highlighted the unique power of football¡ªand sport more broadly¡ªto foster belonging, resilience, connection and hope.

Young people today are navigating unprecedented challenges, from economic uncertainty and armed conflict to climate anxiety and the pressures of an increasingly digital world. According to the World Health Organization, one in seven adolescents aged 10¨C19 lives with a mental health disorder, while most mental health conditions emerge before the age of 24.

Yet stigma, discrimination and silence continue to prevent many young people from seeking support or speaking openly about their experiences.

Real People, Real Talk responds to this challenge by putting young people and their lived experiences at the centre of the conversation. Through authentic stories shared by young people, athletes, creators, public figures and advocates from around the world, the campaign seeks to reduce stigma, encourage honest conversations, foster empathy and remind young people that they are not alone.

By elevating real voices, the campaign aims to inspire a global movement rooted in connection, understanding and collective action. Joining in as allies are:

• Aisha Bowe, Former NASA Aerospace Engineer, Blue Origin Astronaut, Entrepreneur
• Amira Mourtaday, Medical student & Content Creator
• Daniel Amokachi, Nigerian and African Football Legend
• Diego Forl¨¢n, Unicef Uruguay Ambassador
• Gilberto Silva, Ex-footballer & Entrepreneur
• Juan Diego Fl¨®rez, Internationally acclaimed tenor and founder of Sinfon¨ªa por el Per¨²
• Maca Sanchez, First female professional football player from Argentina
• Manizha Talash, First Afghan Female Breakdancer | Paris 2024 Olympian
• Pops Mensah Bonsu, Former NBA Player and Olympian, President of SEED Academy Ghana, and Adapt2Win Champion
• Tim Payne, New Zealand International Footballer
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER, K-POP¡¯s ever-evolving artists, who is also the ¡°Global Campaign Partner¡± of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICEF, supporting mental health and well-being of youth worldwide
• Youn¨¨s Nezar, Athlete, Creator & Engineer

The campaign is the public-facing advocacy platform of the United Nations Youth Office¡¯s flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Well-Being. The flagship initiative advances a broader shift in how youth mental health is understood and promoted ¡ª moving beyond an approach centred primarily on treatment and individual responsibility toward a holistic, ecosystem perspective that recognizes the influence of families, schools, communities, sport, arts and culture, digital spaces, workplaces and public policy. It identifies ten interconnected dimensions that shape young people¡¯s mental health and well-being and calls on all sectors of society to help create environments where young people can flourish.

Dr. Felipe Paullier, Head of the United Nations Youth Office and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs,said:¡°There is no sustainable development without youth mental health and well-being¡ªand without a generation that feels empowered, connected and resilient enough to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Through Real People, Real Talk, we are inviting everyone¡ªnot only young people, but governments, institutions, communities and partners¡ªto listen, to speak openly and to help create the environments where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.¡±

One World, One Game, One Goal

Recognizing football¡¯s unique ability to unite people across cultures and generations, One World, One Game, One Goal demonstrated how sport can contribute to safe, inclusive and supportive environments that strengthen young people¡¯s well-being. Through teamwork, belonging, positive role models and shared purpose, football can help build resilience, confidence and social connection¡ªprotective factors that are fundamental to good mental health.

For more information:

Campaign webpage: /youthaffairs/en/real-people-real-talk

Event webpage:/youthaffairs/en/17-July-2026

To request media credentials or for interview inquiries, please contact:

cristina.serban@un.org, Cristina Serban, Communications Lead at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Office

nurullo.rasulov@un.org, Nurullo Rasulov, Media Assistant at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Office

Cc. Brandtn@un.org, Nina Brandt, Chief of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Office

About the United Nations Youth Office:

As the first dedicated entity for youth affairs within the United Nations Secretariat, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Youth Office champions the rights, perspectives, contributions and potential of young people everywhere. We lead efforts to enhance collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, ensuring that the United Nations works effectively and inclusively with young people in all their diversity. By fostering meaningful, inclusive, and impactful participation of youth in decision-making processes, our work focuses on empowering young people as agents of transformative change in addressing global challenges in the areas of sustainable development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian action.

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