Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Health Celebrate World Mental Health Day

Amman, 10 October 2026 – In the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha bint Faisal, Minister of Youth Dr Raed Sami Al-Adwan patronised a celebration organised by the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Health to mark World Mental Health Day under the theme “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures”, in partnership with UNICEF and Generations for Peace.

The event was attended by Minister of Health Dr Ibrahim Al-Badour, Ambassador of Ireland to Jordan Nicole McHugh, and UNICEF Representative to Jordan Marc Rubin, alongside facilitators of the mental health guide in youth and health centres.

Al-Adwan highlighted the importance of investing in young people’s mental health, describing the “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures” programme as an essential component of youth empowerment and the development of communication skills. He noted that the Ministry continues to work with its partners to expand mental health initiatives and reach young people across the Kingdom, raising awareness, strengthening social cohesion and enabling a generation to participate actively in society.

For his part, Al-Badour stressed that investing in people’s health begins with prevention, raising awareness and building a society equipped to face life’s challenges with confidence and balance. He emphasised that mental health is an integral part of overall health and quality of life.

He added that the programme reflects a shared national vision in which promoting young people’s mental health is a collective responsibility requiring coordinated efforts among government institutions, communities and families.

UNICEF Representative to Jordan, Marc Rubin, said that supporting young people’s mental health is an investment in their ability to learn, build relationships and participate actively in their communities. He highlighted the importance of creating supportive environments where young people can express themselves and seek help without fear of the stigma associated with mental health.

Meanwhile, Generations for Peace Director Lama Hattab reaffirmed the organisation’s belief that mental health is fundamental to youth empowerment. She noted that the partnership with the Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of Health and UNICEF had provided an important opportunity to unite efforts and develop a more inclusive approach that responds to young people’s needs. This includes innovative initiatives such as the digital game “Emotions Catcher”, which promotes mental health awareness through an interactive approach that resonates with young people. She expressed hope that these efforts would be expanded to reach more settings where young people feel supported and included.

The event also saw the launch of “Emotions Catcher”, a digital game co-designed with young people and targeting young people aged 16–24 in Jordan. Set in locations inspired by well-known Jordanian landmarks, the game challenges players to navigate emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety and sadness. An emotional wellbeing indicator reflects the character’s emotional state throughout the game. The game is currently available through Ministry of Youth centres and will be available for public download on Google Play and the Apple App Store in early 2027.

The World Mental Health Day celebration builds on the programme’s achievements during its first year of implementation across 55 youth centres in governorates throughout the Kingdom. The programme delivered more than 560 interactive sessions to raise young people’s awareness of mental health, provide opportunities to access psychosocial support in their local communities, and address the stigma associated with mental health.

The programme also strengthened the capacities of 137 frontline workers from the Ministry of Youth and Ministry of Health, while 55 young mental health advocates received training and mentoring to lead awareness-raising activities in their communities. A total of 1,456 young people benefited from the programme.

Programme activities also included digital campaigns, creative materials and community-led initiatives that encourage dialogue on mental health and strengthen young people’s participation in community awareness-raising.

The event featured a demonstration of the digital game by its young developers, an interactive tour showcasing participants’ initiatives and advocacy experiences, and opportunities for attendees to try the programme’s tools and engage with young facilitators. These activities reinforced collaboration between the youth and health sectors to promote the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents and young people.