Immaculate Kisembo | What Shapes the Mental Health of the Youth? | February 04, 2026
Youth mental health results not just from individual choices, but is also shaped by the social, environmental, and relational contexts that influence young people’s development. As students in Uganda return to academic life on February 10th, 2026, schools and families must prioritize supportive, nurturing environments, since the places where children live, study, play, and reflect play crucial roles in shaping their emotional well-being.
The United Nations World Youth Report notes that youth mental health and well-being are shaped by many social determinants, including education, work, family conditions, poverty, technology, and social environments. Inequality, discrimination, and stigma worsen mental health by restricting access to opportunities and support. Early intervention and youth-inclusive policies in decisions about their lives are essential, whether it’s school choices, courses to be offered, etc. Youth also need environments that encourage participation, which promote resilience and well-being (UN DESA, 2025).
At the Laudato Youth Initiative, we emphasize that mental health depends on environmental, physical, social, and spiritual factors. Our programs use time in natural settings, mindful reflection, and community engagement because nature heals. Young people often report that green spaces help reduce anxiety, offer clarity, and renew emotions during forest walks or active volunteering in tree planting and garden care (Laudato Youth Initiative, 2025). These activities not only support physical health but also serve as eco-therapeutic practices that build inner peace, lower stress, and reinforce purpose.
Our work underscores the interconnectedness of mental health with ecological responsibility. Environmental degradation, such as pollution or loss of green spaces, can contribute to “eco-anxiety” and emotional strain. This is especially true for young people who feel powerless in the face of climate change (Laudato Youth Initiative, 2025). Yet, active youth participation in ecological restoration and peace-building transforms concern into agency. Community bonds strengthen, and emotional well-being improves.
This year, guided by our theme “On the Path to Building Ecological Hope and Peace,” we call on young people to recognize their roles in two core areas: ecological recovery and peace-building. We argue that true mental well-being depends on both supportive structures and meaningful engagement. Such engagement includes caring for the community, cultivating in creativity, and practicing the Gospel value of interconnectedness, as embedded in integral ecology. By encouraging youth to acknowledge their responsibilities to the Earth and to one another, we help foster belonging, purpose, and hope—key elements for mental health to thrive.
Writer is a Laudato Youth Initiative Programs Manager and a teacher of English Language Literature who values students’ well-being for holistic growth.
Reference (APA)
UN DESA. (2025). World Youth Report 2025: Youth Mental Health and Well-Being. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Inclusive Social Development.
Immaculate Kisembo. (2025) Laudato Youth Initiative, 2025: Green spaces help reduce anxiety. Kampala – Uganda
