Published on: 2026-07-17
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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July 17, 2026 Culture and Education
When Dr. Sahira Al-Nahari founded the organization Shifā Art in Saudi Arabia, which uses art as a catalyst in conversations about mental health, she noticed an interesting pattern: men who came to her therapeutic art workshops often found it difficult to openly talk about their innermost thoughts and emotions.
Over time, Sahira noticed that during classes many of them first started drawing T-shirts or emblems of their favorite teams. Gradually, conversations about everyday worries and concerns arose around such drawings.
“No one wins alone on the football field,” says Dr. Al-Nahari. “Players depend on the entire ecosystem: defenders, midfielders, coaches, doctors, and fans in the stands — everyone has their own important role. When we talk about youth mental health, we need an equally broad support ecosystem.”
Speaking at the UN headquarters alongside the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth, Felipe Paulyer, Dr. Al-Nahari emphasized that sports can not only improve the psychological well-being of young people but also reduce the stigma surrounding mental disorders.
On Friday, two days before the FIFA World Cup final, which will take place near the UN headquarters—in New Jersey—the UN Office on Youth convened young activists, government officials, civil society representatives, and athletes for an event dedicated to football as a powerful tool for supporting mental health. This forum was part of the flagship initiative “Mental Health and Well-being of Youth,” aimed at taking the discussion beyond the scope of medicine.
Challenges faced by youth
According to a report published by the UN in February this year, every seventh person aged 10 to 19 lives with some form of mental disorder. At the same time, about 75 percent of mental problems diagnosed in adults begin to develop before the age of 25. The level of depression among adolescents and young people has noticeably increased in recent years.
The authors of the report emphasize that the mental health of young people depends on a whole range of factors: the quality of education, the labor market situation, the atmosphere in the family, the level of poverty, the influence of technology, and social attitudes. Therefore, addressing these issues requires coordinated actions in various fields.
“Young people live in an extremely complex world, facing unpredictable changes: economic instability, the consequences of armed conflicts, forced displacement, and social isolation,” noted Felipe Paullier.
In this regard, the World Health Organization recommends using programs that help young people develop psychological resilience, offer alternatives to risky behavior, combine various forms of support, and create a favorable social environment. One such tool is participation in sports activities.
The game relieves stress
The report shows that participating in team sports is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety, regardless of the country of residence. Football, as the most popular sport on the planet, helps to foster a sense of belonging to the community, strengthens social connections, and develops emotional resilience.
“We are convinced that football and sports in general are very powerful agents of change. They bring people together. Football legends are capable of changing public perceptions and creating new positive behavior patterns,” said Paulier.
Both speakers emphasized the special role of football as a universal language that helps young people feel part of something bigger.
Dr. Al-Nahari also noted that young people themselves are creating effective mechanisms for mutual support on mental health issues, and the task of the UN and the international community is not to lecture them, but to listen and establish close partnerships with them: “The most important players in this field are the young people themselves. They do not stand aside, waiting for someone to come to their aid.”
And yet, football alone is not enough…
The event under the slogan “One World, One Game, One Goal,” which took place in New York on Friday, demonstrated the potential of football in combating social isolation. However, this is just one element of the UN’s multifaceted approach to supporting the mental health of young people worldwide.
For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are implementing the Helping Adolescents Thrive initiative, which is based on scientific evidence. The program assists governments in establishing effective psychosocial support systems for adolescents in schools.
“We want to engage not only in sports,” Paulier noted. “We strive to communicate with young people in a language they understand.”
However, according to him, alongside raising awareness and implementing support programs, a much more serious approach to funding is necessary. According to WHO data, most countries allocate less than two percent of their annual healthcare expenditures to mental health. As a result, a global funding shortfall of about 200 billion dollars has emerged.
“Behind these numbers are millions of young people who carry pain that often goes unnoticed, unspoken, and does not receive the necessary support,” emphasized Felipe Paulier.
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