Category: Mental Health & Global Wellness
Date: November 1, 2025
Published by: Yarima.org Editorial Health Team
Reading time: ~2 minutes
💬 A New Generation Speaks Up for Connection
At the Global Model WHO 2025 in Geneva, nearly 400 young leaders from over 40 countries gathered to address one of today’s most pressing yet often overlooked health issues — loneliness.
Describing it as “a public health priority shaping our generation’s future,” participants called for urgent action to rebuild meaningful social ties in increasingly disconnected societies.
“Social connection is the missing pillar of global health,” said Ida Marchese, Director-General of the Global Model WHO 2025. “Our generation has grown up in an age of digital connection but social disconnection.”
🌐 The Global Model WHO Youth Declaration on Social Connection
At the event’s conclusion, delegates unanimously adopted the Global Model WHO Youth Declaration on Social Connection, calling for:
- National strategies to address social isolation and loneliness
- Community investments that promote inclusion and belonging
- Digital policies that encourage connection rather than division
The initiative, created in partnership between WHO and the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), allows young leaders to simulate the World Health Assembly and propose global health resolutions on issues such as mental health, digital wellbeing, and migration.
🧠 Why Loneliness Matters
According to the WHO Commission on Social Connection, loneliness now affects 1 in 6 people worldwide, contributing to more than 871,000 deaths annually.
Rates are highest among young adults and lower-income communities, where limited access to safe spaces and digital divides can intensify social isolation.
💪 A Global Movement for Belonging
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, encouraged delegates to take their message home:
“Bring this spirit of connection to your families, your schools, your communities. Together, by building stronger human bonds, we can create healthier societies.”
WFUNA Secretary-General Aziel Goulandris added that the declaration proves “the power of youth diplomacy to shape healthier societies.”
💗 Key Takeaway
The youth-led declaration reminds the world that mental and social health are inseparable.
By fostering inclusion, empathy, and participation, societies can transform isolation into belonging and disconnection into collective care.
Reference:
World Health Organization (2025). Young leaders call for urgent action to tackle social isolation and loneliness at the Global Model WHO 2025. WHO News Release, 1 Nov 2025