This year's Theme
SEE US – Amplifying the Voices of Africa’s Children and Youth
Africa’s children and youth are not just the future—they are the now. With 60% of the continent’s population under 25, their voices, needs, and potential must drive today’s policies, investments, and innovations. The 2025 MHPSS Forum, hosted by the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), challenges stakeholders to SEE US: to prioritize, engage, and invest in the well-being of children and youth as catalysts for sustainable development.
The Time to Act
Africa’s youth are not passive victims—they are innovators, advocates, and leaders. The Forum will spotlight:
- Indigenous solutions to mental health, child marriage, and gender-based violence.
- Strategies to integrate MHPSS into climate resilience and humanitarian response.
- Youth-driven advocacy to close gaps in education, healthcare, and social protection.
About the Forum
REPSSI, working with partners will be hosting the 8th Regional Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Forum (MHPSS Forum) in Lusaka, Zambia from the 25th to 29th October, 2025. The MHPSS forum under the theme, “ SEE US”, aims to share knowledge, experiences and innovations that promote putting children and young people at the center of the mental health and psychosocial support agenda by governments, non-state service providers, private sector, research and academic institutions.
The Crisis and The Opportunity
Key Challenges
- Mental Health: Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth globally; 73% of cases occur in developing nations.
- SRHR: Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 90% of adolescents living with HIV and the world’s highest adolescent birth rates.
- Climate & Conflict: 1 billion children face climate-related risks; 47 million are displaced by conflict, disrupting education and safety.
Objective 1
Showcase innovative, home-grown MHPSS models for crisis and development contexts.
Objective 2
Elevate youth voices through actionable policy dialogue with leaders and funders.
Objective 3
Bridge Gaps by disseminating cutting-edge research on SRHR, climate resilience, and child protection.
Objective 4
Mobilize cross-sector commitments to scale investments in youth mental health and rights.
Sub Themes: Driving Change
1. Rooted Solutions:
2. Breaking Barriers:
3. Resilience in Crisis:
4. Power of Participation:
1. Rooted Solutions:
Indigenous approaches to prevent child marriage, violence, and unintended pregnancy.
2. Breaking Barriers:
Transforming SRHR and mental health outcomes through youth-led advocacy.
3. Resilience in Crisis:
Mainstreaming MHPSS in climate action, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response.
4. Power of Participation:
Leveraging child/youth-led initiatives to protect rights and drive progress.
Watch Video
Forum Format
Children and Young People’s Forum (Oct 25–26)
Venue: Zambia Study Centre
The Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), a Pan-African leader in holistic psychosocial care, announces the 2025 Children and Young People’s MHPSS Forum under the theme SEE US. This high-impact forum will unite 60 youth delegates (15–21 years) from 13 Eastern and Southern African countries to amplify their voices, address systemic gaps in mental health and psychosocial support, and catalyze policy action. Through art, dialogue, and advocacy, the forum will challenge stigma, spotlight intersecting vulnerabilities (HIV, climate change, SRHR, conflict), and deliver youth-driven solutions to policymakers, practitioners, and donors.
Objective 1 of the children and youth pre-forum
Amplify Lived Experiences: Elevate youth voices through art, theatre, and storytelling to dismantle stigma.
Objective 2 of the children and youth pre-forum
Advocate for Policy Reform: Develop actionable recommendations to integrate MHPSS into education, SRHR, and climate resilience programs.
Objective 3 of the children and youth pre-forum
Catalyze Collaboration: Connect governments, NGOs, and funders to scale evidence-based MHPSS interventions.
Objective 4 of the children and youth pre-forum
Drive Investment: Showcase the ROI of youth-centric mental health programs through case studies and data.
Main Forum (Oct 27–29)
Venue: Taj Pamodzi
Africa’s children and youth are not just the future—they are the now. With 60% of the continent’s population under 25, their voices, needs, and potential must drive today’s policies, investments, and innovations. The 2025 MHPSS Forum, hosted by the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), challenges stakeholders to SEE US: to prioritize, engage, and invest in the well-being of children and youth as catalysts for sustainable development.
Objective 1 of the Main Forum
Showcase innovative, home-grown MHPSS models for crisis and development contexts.
Objective 2 of the Main Forum
Elevate youth voices through actionable policy dialogue with leaders and funders.
Objective 3 of the Main Forum
Bridge Gaps by disseminating cutting-edge research on SRHR, climate resilience, and child protection.
Objective 4 of the Main Forum
Mobilize cross-sector commitments to scale investments in youth mental health and rights.
Forum Announcements