With more than half of Zambia’s population under 18 and mental health challenges affecting millions across Africa, the publication calls for inclusive, people-centred development.
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA | 14 OCTOBER 2026
Arise Africa Magazine is calling for greater attention to youth mental health and disability inclusion in Zambia and across Africa, urging governments, educational institutions, civil society organisations and communities to place young people’s well-being, dignity and equal participation at the centre of development.
The call comes amid growing recognition of the need to strengthen mental health support and remove barriers that prevent young people, particularly persons with disabilities, from accessing education, employment, healthcare and leadership opportunities.
According to UNICEF Zambia, more than 50 per cent of Zambia’s population is under the age of 18, highlighting the importance of investing in the well-being and development of children and young people. At the continental level, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa reported in 2025 that nearly 150 million people in Africa were living with mental health conditions, amid insufficient access to appropriate care.
These figures highlight the scale of the challenge and the importance of making mental health and disability inclusion integral to national development and Africa’s broader development agenda.
Zambia’s Youth Population Makes Inclusion a National Priority
Zambia’s young population represents a significant opportunity for national development. Young people can drive innovation, entrepreneurship, community development and economic growth when they have access to the resources and opportunities they need.
However, realising this potential requires attention to the social and institutional barriers that can limit participation.
Mental health awareness, accessible education, supportive communities and inclusive public services are important elements of this effort. Young people should be able to seek appropriate support without fear of stigma or discrimination.
The disability inclusion challenge is equally important. Zambia’s 2015 National Disability Survey estimated disability prevalence at 10.9 per cent among adults aged 18 and above and 4.4 per cent among children aged 2–17.
Although these are historical survey estimates rather than current prevalence figures, they provide important context for understanding why disability inclusion must remain a national development priority.
The survey also identified gaps in access to empowerment programmes and welfare services among persons with disabilities. These findings underline the importance of accessible services, effective implementation of inclusive policies and meaningful participation by persons with disabilities in decisions affecting their lives.
For Zambia, the task is not simply to recognise the needs of young people and persons with disabilities, but to ensure that policies and programmes translate into practical opportunities.
A Continental Challenge Requiring Collective Action
The issues facing Zambia form part of a wider African conversation about mental health, social inclusion and equitable access to services.
In 2025, the WHO Regional Office for Africa reported that nearly 150 million people across the continent were living with mental health conditions. The organisation also highlighted persistent weaknesses in mental health services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
For young people, barriers to accessing support can have consequences for education, relationships, employment and participation in community life.
The WHO has also reported that approximately one in seven adolescents aged 10–19 globally experiences a mental health condition. This is a global estimate and should not be interpreted as a Zambia-specific or Africa-specific prevalence rate.
Together, these findings reinforce the importance of prevention, early support, awareness and accessible mental health services.
Across Africa, governments and development partners must also consider how poverty, violence, displacement, inequality and limited access to services can affect young people’s well-being.
While each country has its own circumstances, regional cooperation and the sharing of effective practices can help strengthen responses.
Disability Inclusion Must Go Beyond Representation
Disability inclusion is not simply about increasing the visibility of persons with disabilities in the media or public life. It requires removing barriers that prevent them from participating on an equal basis.
In Zambia and elsewhere across Africa, accessibility, inclusive education, employment opportunities, appropriate support services and representation in decision-making remain important areas for attention.
Young persons with disabilities should have opportunities to develop their skills, pursue their ambitions, participate in leadership and contribute to their communities.
Mental health initiatives must also be inclusive and responsive to different needs. Having a disability does not automatically mean experiencing a mental health condition, and people with disabilities should not be defined by assumptions about their health or abilities.
Instead, effective inclusion recognises individual dignity, respects lived experience and ensures that appropriate support and reasonable accommodations are available.
Disability-led organisations have an important role to play in shaping programmes and policies because their members can contribute practical knowledge about the barriers they encounter and the solutions that work.
Arise Africa Magazine CEO Calls for Dignity and Equal Opportunities
Ms Bupe Mwape Chisha, Chief Executive Officer of Arise Africa Magazine, emphasised the importance of addressing young people’s mental well-being while ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in every aspect of society.
“We cannot speak about empowering young people without addressing their mental well-being and ensuring that young persons with disabilities are included in every aspect of society. Every young person deserves dignity, opportunity and the chance to contribute meaningfully to the future of Zambia and Africa.”
Her statement reflects the importance of treating youth empowerment as a comprehensive development priority rather than focusing exclusively on education, employment or economic participation.
It also highlights the role of journalism in bringing underrepresented perspectives into public discussion, challenging harmful stereotypes and encouraging institutions to address barriers that affect vulnerable and marginalised communities.
For Arise Africa Magazine, these conversations are central to a broader editorial commitment to youth empowerment, leadership, inclusion and social impact.
From Awareness to Practical Action
Addressing youth mental health and disability inclusion requires cooperation among governments, schools, universities, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, disability-led organisations, employers, community leaders and the media.
In Zambia, educational institutions and community organisations can strengthen awareness and support systems, while public institutions can continue working towards accessible services and the effective implementation of disability inclusion measures.
Employers can promote fair recruitment practices and accessible workplaces. Healthcare providers can help improve access to appropriate mental health support. Media organisations can report responsibly and ensure that people affected by these issues have opportunities to share their experiences.
At the continental level, African countries can benefit from exchanging knowledge, strengthening regional partnerships and ensuring that youth and disability inclusion are considered in development planning.
Awareness is an important starting point, but lasting progress requires appropriate resources, sustained commitment and measurable action.
Young people and persons with disabilities must also be involved in designing and evaluating the initiatives intended to serve them.
Arise Africa Magazine’s Commitment to Social Impact
As a youth-focused Pan-African publication, Arise Africa Magazine seeks to amplify African voices, celebrate changemakers and highlight issues shaping the continent’s future.
Its coverage of leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and social development provides a platform for conversations about both the opportunities available to young Africans and the barriers that must be addressed.
By highlighting mental health and disability inclusion, the publication seeks to encourage constructive dialogue across Zambia and the wider African continent.
The objective is to promote a development conversation that values not only achievement and economic progress, but also dignity, well-being, accessibility and equal participation.
Building an Africa Where Every Young Person Can Thrive
Zambia’s young population and Africa’s wider development ambitions present an opportunity to build societies in which young people can pursue their goals and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Realising that opportunity requires greater attention to mental health, inclusive education, accessible services and the removal of barriers that disproportionately affect persons with disabilities.
For Zambia, this means translating national commitments into practical opportunities for young people and persons with disabilities. Across Africa, it means strengthening cooperation and ensuring that inclusion remains part of the continent’s development priorities.
Arise Africa Magazine calls on stakeholders to continue these conversations and work towards a future in which every young person can participate, lead and thrive.
An inclusive Africa is one in which no young person is overlooked, no voice is dismissed and every individual has the opportunity to rise.
ABOUT ARISE AFRICA MAGAZINE
Arise Africa Magazine is a youth-focused Pan-African publication with the tagline “Inspiring a generation to rise.” The magazine highlights African leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, changemakers and initiatives advancing youth empowerment, leadership, disability inclusion and social impact.
SOURCES
1\. UNICEF Zambia — Adolescent and Youth Engagement: [https://www.unicef.org/zambia/adolescent-and-youth-engagement](https://www.unicef.org/zambia/adolescent-and-youth-engagement)
2\. UNICEF Zambia — Zambia National Disability Survey 2015: [https://www.unicef.org/zambia/reports/zambia-national-disability-survey-2015](https://www.unicef.org/zambia/reports/zambia-national-disability-survey-2015)
3\. World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa — Mental health conditions affect 150 million in Africa amid insufficient care services: [https://www.afro.who.int/news/mental-health-conditions-affect-150-million-africa-amid-insufficient-care-services](https://www.afro.who.int/news/mental-health-conditions-affect-150-million-africa-amid-insufficient-care-services)
4\. World Health Organization — Mental health of adolescents: [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health)