The First G20 Presidency on African Soil: Mental Health Championed Under the Spirit of Ubuntu

The G20 in South Africa, under the theme of ‘Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability’, was a historic milestone for the African continent. At a time of instability and uncertainty, Africa’s Rainbow Nation took on the task of leading the G20, a forum bringing together major economies to shape global cooperation. 

United for Global Mental Health (UnitedGMH), supported by the Being initiative, participated in the Youth20 and Children’s 20 Engagement Groups. These groups ensure that the voices of civil society, young people and children help shape the recommendations considered by G20 Leaders.

Our participation efforts were grounded in demonstrating mental health as a matter of economic growth, sustainability, equity and social cohesion. Informed by the mission of the Being initiative, we advocated that youth be at the centre of mental health progress, and collaboration would be the vehicle to make that happen. 

The journey leading up to the G20 Leaders Declaration, adopted on the 22nd of November 2025, was nothing short of collaborative and deliberately informed by young people, including the South African Children’s Parliament. We had the privilege of joining the Children’s 20 Secretariat that hosted the first ever G20 Children’s 20 Pre-Summit. At the end of the Summit, the Children’s 20 presented the Children’s 20 Recommendations which included these areas on mental health: 

1. Improving access to mental health care for climate-related mental health challenges, especially in remote areas. 

2. Governments to invest in psychosocial healthcare facilities.

3. Improvements in mental health and mass participation programmes that strengthen child-centred dialogue. 

4. Access to counsellors, trained teachers and safe places to talk. 

World leaders adopted a ‘Leaders Declaration’ that reinforces that mental health is linked to broader health, social justice and development matters. The World Health Organisation’s leadership role and the momentum of initiatives like the Lusaka Agenda were highlighted as significant. G20 leaders’ commitments reinforced that equitable mental health care is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and building societies where everyone feels well and thrives. 

The final G20 Leaders Declaration made this commitment towards mental health: 

‘We recognise the critical importance of investing in the health and well-being of all, including women, children and adolescents as a foundation for sustainable development and call upon all partners to intensify coordinated action and efforts to accelerate progress towards UHC. We remain committed to building more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive health systems for the provision of integrated people centred health services, including mental health, and to achieve Universal Health Coverage.’ 

Congratulations to South Africa on hosting a successful summit and to the young people of South Africa for being part of this historic event. The declaration concludes with the announcement of G20 Social Summit Legacy Projects, designed to institutionalise people centred participation and ensure that the voices amplified under South Africa’s Presidency remain embedded in future global decision-making. We will continue to play an active role as part of the Legacy Groups, which will advocate for the further integration and implementation of commitments. 

From this South African, thank you to the Being initiative, Wellcome Trust, the Africa CDC and The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) for demonstrating the spirit of ‘Ubuntu – I am because we are’ by championing youth mental health as an active ingredient for thriving societies.