When you arrive at the university of Winnipeg on Saturday Sept 28th, please proceed to the Convocation Hall Collegiate building on the 2nd floor.
Centering Mental Health In Global Development
The Global Cultural Leaders Congress (GCLC) 2025 conference will take place at the University of Alberta Conference Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in November 2025. The theme, "Centering Mental Health in Global Development," focuses on the vital role mental health plays in shaping global development.
Mental health has long been an overlooked issue despite its profound impact on human capital and economic stability. Ignoring mental health comes at a high cost, affecting productivity, education, and social equality worldwide.
Mental health issues affect nearly 1 billion people globally. Low- and middle-income countries are especially impacted due to limited access to services and societal stigma. This event will emphasize how mental health must become a priority in global development strategies.
Mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety, cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. Investing in mental health can help break the cycle of poverty by enabling individuals to be more productive and resilient.
Mental health is essential to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It contributes to goals like reducing poverty (SDG 1), improving education (SDG 4), and promoting gender equality (SDG 5). Addressing mental health can also boost economic growth (SDG 8).
The conference will explore several strategies, including integrating mental health into primary healthcare, community-based care, and promoting mental health innovations like mobile technology. These strategies aim to increase access to mental health services and reduce stigma.
In conflict zones and humanitarian crises, mental health is often overlooked. Yet, addressing it is crucial for recovery and long-term stability. The event will highlight the importance of mental health in crisis response.
Centering mental health in global development is essential to building resilient, equitable, and prosperous societies. By prioritizing mental health, we can create lasting societal transformation and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2025 GCLC conference will focus on the critical role mental health plays in shaping global development. By bringing together global leaders, the event aims to emphasize the importance of mental well-being as a foundation for sustainable progress. Addressing mental health is essential not only for individual well-being but also for achieving broader goals in education, economic growth, and societal resilience. Through dialogue and innovative strategies, this event will advocate for integrating mental health into development agendas worldwide.
Representative of Africa Centre in Manitoba. Entrepreneurial Engagement Manager. A special presentation on the Africa development centre and its work in economics and social development. He talked about the need for more people of African descent becoming entrepreneurs
A multi-passionate author, educator and speaker. With over 50 keynote speeches, Dr. Sekandi brought in a wealth of experience from Canada to inspire and inform attendees.
Re-known Social Worker and former University Lecturer.
Representative of the leadership of African students at the University of Winnipeg talked about the need for students to embrace global economic movements.
Senior citizen shared her success story of sponsoring Borehole water projects in the district of Tororo in Uganda. The many boreholes they built increased access to clean water in that community and this made it easier for more girls to remain in school and they were able complete their secondary education. Some girls had to walk so many kilometres to fetch water for home use before that water project and this contributed to so many girls dropping out of schools.
