Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

Opportunities are drawing increasing numbers of predominantly young people to cities across the globe. While this influx of new residents puts a strain on urban infrastructure, it also presents an enormous opportunity to address persistent socio-economic issues, with youth mental health being among the most significant. citiesRISE, in partnership with the World Psychiatric Association and other organizations, is driving a global movement of Mental Health Friendly Cities (MHFC). citiesRISE’s MHFC framework provides a pathway for city-based action across the inner, social, and environmental dimensions of young people’s mental health. In doing so, the framework’s elements lay the groundwork for improving individual and social functioning and scaling up successfully integrated mental health interventions globally. The theory of change underlying the MHFC framework is based on the transformative potential of collaboration between young people, mental health professionals, system leaders, and other stakeholders as respected partners. citiesRISE’s city programs in Bogotá, Chennai, Nairobi, Sacramento, and Seattle serve as living labs for testing and scaling innovations toward more MHFCs. These programs engage mental health professionals to strengthen community mental health capacity and provide connections to care for young people. This session will explore the role of mental health professionals in the MHFC movement and how mental health professionals and young people can collaborate across boundaries to drive system changes in youth mental health globally. This session will feature a facilitated conversation between a youth leader (Yvonne Ochieng) and mental health professionals (Dr. Norman Sartorius, Dr. Suresh Kumar) who are active in the MHFC movement.