In South Africa, young people are often excluded from important mental health policy and decision-making spaces, resulting in policies and practices being developed without their voices included. Over the past three years, SAFMH, through a generous grant from EMpower, has piloted the first of its kind national youth advocacy and advisory forum for mental health in South Africa.

The forum currently is made up of 18 young people (aged 19-25 years) from four provinces across South Africa (the Western Cape, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and North-West). The Forum aims to empower youth mental health advocates to guide national mental health advocacy and awareness work, while enhancing their voices, advocacy skills, capacity, and mental health knowledge.