Building Back Better after COVID-19 through Addressing Health Equity, Mental Health, and Well-being: Contributions of Psychological Science and Practice to Leave No One Behind

Building Back Better after COVID-19 through Addressing Health Equity, Mental Health, and Well-being: Contributions of Psychological Science and Practice to Leave No One Behind

The event highlights challenges and solutions related to achieving health and mental health equity in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Speakers include experts, “voices from the field,” and high-level diplomats from the co-sponsoring UN Missions of Sierra Leone, Bahrain, Canada, Ecuador, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Lebanon, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, Sweden, Costa Rica, and Qatar, as well as the World Health Organization, the International Association of Applied Psychology, the American Psychological Association, and the United African Congress.

We look forward to you joining us. Please feel free to circulate/post this invitation to your lists and colleagues.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__yJ1ykoeTGCoj4WtLxqB6g

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.

Families and New Technologies: The Challenging Impact of Social Media

Certainly, there are positive aspects of access to internet and social media especially during Covid-19 related shutdowns. However, parents and families around the world also have found themselves vulnerable to a deluge of unwanted negative material such as pornography, sexually explicit messages on Tik Tok or damaging bullying on other social media. Unfortunately, many families are not aware that their children, at younger and younger ages, are viewing this material. The evidence is clear that exposure to such negative content can have a tragic effect leading to depression or even suicide. Data also show that pornography leads to demeaning and abusive treatment of women and can be deleterious to viewers. In addition, the use of pornography has been shown to tear apart the trust and security in a marriage, leading to conflict and divorce.

Panel speakers will share policies that help protect families from harmful use of technology. Other experts will explain the research of the impact of pornography on the personal and family life and practices that help individuals overcome the habit of pornographic viewing. Speakers will also describe how parents can protect their children from harmful exposure to social media and heal together from inappropriate use.

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApceutrzotGdWxWzaDPuN7hFv6tM7MU9CT

Speakers:

H.E. Mohamed Al Hassan, Permanent Mission of Oman to the UN
Mohamed Ibrahim Elbahi, Charge d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Sudan to the UN
Andrew Love, Founder and Director, High Noon, Content Developer, Educator in sexual integrity and overcoming pornography habits
Erica Komisar, LCSW, Family Therapist, Parenting Coach, Author of forthcoming “Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety”
Kristen Jenson, Founder and Director, Protect Young Minds, Parent educator and author

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family, please visit ngofamilyny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.

COVID-19, Youth Livelihood, and Mental Health: A Global Youth Voice for Resilience and Recovery

COVID-19, Youth Livelihood, and Mental Health: A Global Youth Voice for Resilience and Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted young people across the world. From decreased access to quality education to sudden loss of employment, young people are at greater risk of distress now. Urgent actions need to be taken immediately with better policies and practices.

Prior to COVID-19, mental health conditions already took the lives of young people worldwide. If necessary actions are not taken with better policy and practice, this public health crisis will put youth further into severe and prolonged psychological, social, and economic distress. Let’s learn from global experts and practitioners how we could address this issue best!

Register for our side event at the United Nations #ECOSOCYouthForum2021 now. Let’s together promote the positive mental health of young people!

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN.

UN Friends of Mental Health and Well-Being in Times of COVID-19

Dear colleagues and members of the Group of Friends of Mental Health and Well-Being,

Please consider yourselves invited to an event on Mental Health and Well-Being in Times of COVID-19 being held on March 30^th from 9:00 to 10:15 am EST. This event is co-organized by the World Health Organization, the Co-Chairs of the UN Group of Friends of Mental Health and Well-being, UNICEF, the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the UN System Workplace Mental Health and Well-being.

Presenting experience from professionals in the field and examples from member states, the event will share practical tools, best practices and resources, as well as self-care tools, to help navigate through this difficult time and to strengthen and support our mental health and psychosocial well-being.

We hope you will be able to join us for this important conversation. Please register here!

Best regards,

Pierre-David Jean
First Secretary (Political) | Premier Secrétaire (Politique)
pierre-david.jean@international.gc.ca

Tel. (212) 848-1136
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations |
Mission Permanente du Canada auprès des Nations-Unies
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org.

International Day of Happiness

The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012 proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness, recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. It also recognized the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples.

The resolution was initiated by Bhutan, a country which recognized the value of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s and famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product. It also hosted a High Level Meeting on “Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” during the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly.

To learn more and stay apprised of planned events, please visit un.org/en/observances/happiness-day.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns-NY, please visit csvgc-ny.org.

International Youth Conference 2021

COVID-19 has paused the life of every human being on earth and affected global development at large. Whereas the world is under lockdown the progress of development is halted. On account of this, the International Youth Conference 2021 (IYC 2021) will take place under the theme ‘Regeneration: Moving forward with Development’. The conference will shed light on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and youth relevant themes. Youth and field experts will come together to discuss youth issues and drive youth action towards the achievement of SDGs while the world is at pause.

Register here!

The objectives of the conference are:

To provide an international platform to youth to develop and engage in participatory development of the world
To support the UN achieve its Sustainable Development Goals through youth engagement
To empower gender and youth equality and inclusion in decision making, policy making, and development at all levels (communal, local, institutional, national, and international)
To brainstorm implementation of the Youth Climate Compact
To chalk out innovative ideas for development
To foster youth advancement through digital innovation and tools
To steer thinking and aspiration towards social developmental solutions provision

IYC 2021 will also formulate a policy and action recommendation/document/manual for youth on how to act under ‘world at pause’ conditions, how to find relevant opportunities, combat depression and come out of it a victor.

The conference is truly global with organizers and speakers from all continents and is open to anyone identifying as youth as per the UN definition.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org.

The International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021: Inclusively Creative, for Global Recovery

Setting the Scene

· The resolution 74/198 on International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, 2021, was envisioned as a rallying point behind the development of a creative economy as a way to promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, foster innovation and provide opportunities, benefits and empowerment for all and respect for all human rights.

· With the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some boom and bust creative industries. Some industries have shown tremendous growth, such as virtual music and apps development; some industries face tremendous challenges, for instance, industries dependent on the tourism sector, such as performing arts and crafts.

· Most creative industry players are either small-medium enterprises, self-employed people, and freelancers, who have more limited financial capacity to weather the impacts of a prolonged crisis.

· It is important to ensure a meaningful and impactful implementation of the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development toward a sustainable and resilient recovery by among others optimizing opportunism and addressing main challenges in creative economy.

The virtual side event will discuss:

· Outcome of the Friends of Creative Economy (FCE) Meeting 2020 held on 11-12 November 2020.

· Outcome of the Creative Forum held on 30 November 2020.

· Implementation of the resolution, including roadmap for the implementation of the resolution.

· Expectation by countries, possible collaborations, relevant events, with a summary of the discussion.

On Dec. 9, join the Zoom meeting here.

Agenda

9:00 – 9:10 Opening Remark by H.E. Dian Triansyah Djani, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York

9:10 – 9:50 Panel Discussion
Mr. Candra Negara, Director for Inter-Institutional Relations, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia

Briefing on the outcome of the Friends of Creative Economy (FCE) Meeting 2020

Ms. Petra Kežman – Head of Department for Public Diplomacy and International Cooperation in Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia

Briefing on the International Conference, “Symptoms of Creativity”

Marisa Henderson, PhD – Chief, Creative Economy, Division of International Trade and Commodities, UNCTAD

Implementation of Resolution 74/198

Mr. Ernesto Ottone – Assistant-Director General for Culture, UNESCO

9:50 – 10:25 Discussion
10:25 – 10:30 Virtual Photo Session & Closing

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-New York, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN.

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