World Cup football’s other goal: Helping young people talk about mental health
Football as a Bridge: Connecting Youth Through Sport and Mental Wellness
Art, Sport, and Breaking Barriers
World Cup football s other goal - Dr. Sahira Al Nahari established Shifā Art, an organization rooted in Saudi Arabia that harnesses creative expression to foster meaningful dialogue surrounding psychological wellbeing. During her therapeutic art sessions, she observed a recurring pattern among male participants who struggled to articulate their emotional experiences openly. Yet within these creative spaces, something remarkable emerged. Men frequently began by drawing football jerseys or illustrating their beloved teams, according to the medical professional. These initial sketches gradually evolved into deeper discussions about daily worries and concerns, demonstrating how athletic pursuits can unlock conversations that conventional mental health approaches sometimes fail to reach.
Dr. Al Nahari explained this connection through a powerful analogy:
"On the field, absolutely no one wins alone," she stated. "Players depend on a whole ecosystem – defenders, midfielders, coaches, medics and fans in the stands – all having important roles. When we approach youth mental health, we require the exact same ecosystem."
A Global Conversation at UN Headquarters
During a Tuesday gathering at United Nations Headquarters, Dr. Al Nahari joined UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier to discuss how athletic participation can enhance psychological outcomes for young people while simultaneously diminishing associated stigma. Their presentation highlighted the transformative potential of sport as a vehicle for emotional healing and community building.
Just two days before the Men's World Cup final taking place in New Jersey, positioned across the river from Midtown Manhattan, the UN Youth Office prepared to host a significant celebration. This Friday gathering would bring together young leaders, government policymakers, civil society representatives, professional athletes, and numerous other stakeholders to honor football's role as a catalyst for youth mental health advancement.
This gathering represents a cornerstone of the Youth Office's premier initiative focused on Youth Mental Health and Well-Being, which seeks to move beyond purely clinical approaches toward more holistic solutions.
Understanding the Challenge
A comprehensive UN report published in February revealed concerning statistics about young people worldwide. The findings indicated that one in seven individuals between the ages of 10 and 19 experiences a mental health condition. Furthermore, the data showed that seventy-five percent of adult mental health conditions were already present by the mid-twenties, while depression rates among adolescents and young adults have risen notably in recent years.
The report emphasized that youth psychological wellbeing is profoundly influenced by numerous inequalities and social determinants. These factors include education access, employment opportunities, family relationships, economic poverty, technological influences, and broader societal attitudes—all elements requiring coordinated cross-sectoral policy responses.
Mr. Paullier contextualized these challenges:
"Young people are navigating a very complex world with very unpredictable changes in terms of digital disruption, economic uncertainty, the consequences of armed conflict, displacement, and social isolation," he observed.
Sport as Solution and Connection
In response to these mounting challenges, the World Health Organization has recommended interventions that strengthen resilience, provide alternatives to risky behaviors, incorporate multiple delivery methods, and cultivate supportive social environments.
Research presented in the same report demonstrated that participation in team sports correlates with reduced depression and anxiety rates across all countries examined. Nevertheless, numerous barriers continue preventing many young people from engaging meaningfully in athletic activities.
As the world's most popular sport, football offers unique opportunities to build belonging and social connection, strengthen emotional resilience, and promote both inclusion and collective wellbeing, according to the Youth Office.
Mr. Paullier shared his perspective:
"We believe that football and sports are a really powerful messenger, not only because of what they represent when they connect people because we know football legends can be strong messengers to transform narratives."
Youth Voices and Future Directions
Both speakers emphasized football's distinctive quality as a universal language that provides young people with an essential sense of belonging. Dr. Al Nahari highlighted that young people are already developing effective peer-support solutions, and she argued that the UN and international community bear responsibility for listening actively and becoming genuine partners.
"The most important players are the youth themselves," she declared. "They are not waiting on the sidelines to be saved."
The "One World, One Game, One Goal" event on Friday illustrates football's capacity to combat social isolation, though it represents merely one facet of the UN's comprehensive approach to youth mental health globally.
Complementary efforts include the WHO and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Helping Adolescents Thrive (HAT) initiative, which delivers evidence-based frameworks assisting governments in implementing effective psychosocial support programs within educational settings.
Mr. Paullier concluded with a vision for holistic engagement:
"We want to use not only sports. We want to meet young people where they are."
Beyond awareness-raising and program implementation, Mr. Paullier stressed the critical need for improved financial support. According to WHO data, most nations dedicate less than two percent of their annual health budgets to mental health services, resulting in a substantial $200 billion financing gap that must be addressed to ensure comprehensive care for young people worldwide.