Report written by Rei Shimizu, TDN Research Assistant 

On September 7^th 2016, Transdiaspora Network (TDN) participated in the United Nations Event: Mental Health and Wellbeing at the Heart of the Sustainable Development Goals. Marking the first time in history where “mental health and wellbeing” was included in international policy as a sustainable development goal**, such an event, solidified the notion that mental health is a human right.

As the various professionals in the field of mental health and wellbeing gathered, the room was filled with warmth and support but most importantly, common understanding that health, whether physical or emotional, is at the core of the three pillars of the United Nations; peace and security, human rights, and development. The participants were truly international and intergenerational. Many speakers and participants, active in their communities from Haiti, Africa, Brooklyn, all the way to China, enthusiastically welcomed each other to propel the movement forward.

L to R: Maria Helena Lopes de Jesus Pires, U.N. Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste; Lewis G. Brown, U.N. Permanent Representative of Liberia; Ariel Rojas, TDN President & Founder; Rei Shimizu, TDN Research Assistant

Professionals connected and became educated about the various methods and situations of need, people were facing and still face today. Eventually what started as a room of professionals from various fields and modes of service, became a community of like-minded individuals trying to make a change. Therefore, Transdiaspora Network was honored to actively engage in sustainability goal number 17, partnerships for the goals, as those committed to sustainable development goals such as good health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality, gathered at this monumental event.

As the event came to a close, praise and thanks were exchanged with true appreciation for one another’s efforts. Not only was there hope at the end of the day for these goals to be attainable, everybody left with the promise that we will all work together to make these goals a reality.

L to R: Rei Shimizu, TDN Research Assistant; Ariel Rojas, TDN President & Founder; Laura Flores, U.N. Permanent Representative of Panamá; Emily Dery, Global Health Head, Clinton Global Initiative.

Within the health goal, two targets are directly related to mental health and substance abuse. Target 3.4 requests that countries: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” Target 3.5 requests that countries: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”

The adoption of the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan in 2013 and the Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol in 2010 by the World Health Assembly paved the way for the inclusion of mental health and substance abuse in the SDGs. Together, they are likely to have a large impact on communities and countries.

Mental Wellness. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

Sponsors: U.N. Permanent Mission of Canada, U.N. Permanent Mission of Palau, and the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP)

** Learn more about the document “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.”