It is estimated that between 8% and 14% of children and adolescents worldwide live with a mental disorder, and that 50% of mental health conditions in adults begin before the age of 14. These issues disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including those living in poverty, infants and children exposed to abuse or neglect, and new mothers at risk of depression – undermining the prospects of a healthy and productive future.

Against this backdrop, the Growing Minds initiative supports, on one hand, projects focused on prevention, promotion, and recovery in child mental health, and on the other, the training and empowerment of institutions, professionals, and caregivers.

The supported projects aim to operate in three areas: Maternal and Child Health, with the goal of reducing postpartum depression through digital solutions and integrated psychological support; Emotional Bonding and Development, to strengthen parenting skills in vulnerable families; and Childhood Adversities, to foster healthy development in at-risk children through the arts.

The initiative includes strategic partnerships for monitoring, scientific validation, and impact assessment, namely the Ministry of Health, Uppsala University, University College London, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and LAICOS.