Across the United Nations system, the recognition of mental health as a fundamental human right has deepened over the past decade. Yet, despite growing global attention, no dedicated UN resolution has centered the mental health and well-being of children and youth as a distinct development, health, and human rights priority, nor does a unified narrative exist that fully addresses their distinct developmental needs.

While references to mental health have increasingly appeared across UN policy frameworks, language specifically focusing on children and youth remains limited. This absence perpetuates fragmented, siloed approaches and chronic underinvestment, particularly in prevention and early intervention, despite the evidence of scalable, cost-effective solutions.