From 26–28 October, the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) of UNDP and Dartmouth College will co-host a three-day global symposium to explore one of the urgent challenges of our time — the alarming decline in youth well-being worldwide.
The symposium is anchored in HDRO and partners’ research on subjective well-being, documented in a series of Human Development Reports (2021-22 and 2025). The most recent Human Development Report 2025 finds a global decline in youth mental well-being, correlated with the rise of digital technologies and nearly universal smart phone use.
Bringing together leading scholars, senior policymakers, youth advocates, and innovators, the event will examine the drivers of this crisis and chart solutions to advance youth mental health and well-being in an era of rapid social, economic, and technological change.
The symposium will be held in person at Dartmouth College and livestreamed globally beginning on 27 October at 9:00 a.m. (EDT).
Highlights from the Programme
- Day 1 — A Day of Experience: Practicing the Whole Person Approach to Youth Well-being
Outdoor and experiential activities demonstrating the links between environment, mental health, and integrative well-being. - Day 2 — Revealing the Crisis: Evidence, Engagement & the Decline in Youth Well-being
Key sessions with leading experts exploring the evidence behind the youth mental health crisis. - Day 3 — From Insight to Action: A Global Agenda for Youth Well-being
Featuring Pedro Conceição, Director of the Human Development Report Office, UNDP, alongside global policymakers and experts discussing how to place mental well-being at the heart of development policy.
Join us to learn, engage, and act toward advancing youth well-being for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Register to attend the symposium in person or online: Register Here