A new cross-sector knowledge hub - What’s working: Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing

Supported by the Enlight Foundation and led by Solution Insight lab, this five-year initiative will synthesize real-world learnings from 25 global organizations in the ICONIQ Impact Youth Mental Wellbeing Co-Lab and their extended networks. 

By interviewing practitioners, researchers, funders, and young people, the platform highlights how change happens on the ground—and what makes it work. At this stage, eight core insights have emerged across four key areas, detailed below. The team will continue to add additional insights over the next four years. 

• Research:

  • Don't let the proof cost more than the program.

  • Localize your diagnostic tools, not just your programs.

• Ecosystem:

  • Look after the people doing the work.

  • Fund mental health as an outcome in itself.

• Strategy:

  • Start with what young people already show up for.

  • Make mental health care routine, not just for moments of crisis.

• Practice:

  • Build your mental health workforce from the people youth already trust.

  • Make young people your design team, not your focus group.

As the landscape of youth mental health continues to evolve, we hope this platform will serve as a practical resource for your work—whether you are looking to enhance current programs, reflect on your own learning, or challenge funders to see things in new ways.

On the web site, you will notice wonderful illustrations to compliment the written materials. The idea to hire a young illustrator came from the co-lab group itself. The art was created by Thuy Tran who worked with the team to make sure the illustrations reflect the breadth of insights and demographics of the youth we are working with around the world. 

How you can get involved:

• Explore the insights at  www.youthmentalwellbeing.org and read the full findings.

• Check out the social media toolkit for easy to post and share illustrations and graphics. 

  
  

We look forward to seeing how this knowledge hub empowers changemakers to create a more resilient mental health ecosystem for the next generation!

With optimism,

The Enlight Foundation Team