Thriving Inside and Out: Young Voices Powering International Adolescent Health Week in 2025

A Global Call to Thrive

International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW) 2025 sparked a global movement under the bold theme

“Thriving Inside and Out: Strengthening Adolescent Physical and Mental Health.”

This year, the message was loud and clear: adolescents don’t just need to survive, they deserve to thrive. Adolescents thrive when physical and mental health are supported together and equally

One Week. One Voice. Worldwide.

From classrooms and community halls to social media feeds and national platforms, IAHW 2025 brought together young leaders, health advocates, government partners, and community allies from around the world. Together, they turned conversations into action and demanded space, support, and rights for young people at the local, national, and international levels.

Youth leadership was the engine of IAHW 2025. A dynamic network of 68 Youth Ambassadors from 44 countries, supported by 22 Global Committee Members from 9 countries, led the movement. These young changemakers organized community events, mobilized peers, built partnerships, and used digital platforms to start honest, meaningful conversations about adolescent health.

Local Actions and Global Movement

IAHW 2025 came alive in 27 countries through 174 diverse activities.  From school health talks and mental health sessions to fitness activities, menstrual hygiene workshops, media dialogues, and symbolic actions like lighting buildings green, each activity reflected the creativity and commitment of youth and communities worldwide. The momentum extended far beyond physical spaces. Across social media, the campaign reached an estimated 5.2 to 5.7 million people, generating over 25,000 interactions. Online conversations were overwhelmingly positive, centering on mental wellbeing, safe spaces, sexual and reproductive health and rights, physical activity, and youth empowerment.

A Youth-Driven Global Movement

IAHW 2025 demonstrated the power of youth-led action and global collaboration. By combining community engagement, digital advocacy, and strong leadership, the campaign strengthened its position as a leading global movement advancing adolescent health and wellbeing, driven by young people, for young people.