UNICEF Charity Gala Dinner Raises 283 Million Tenge

On November 28, the UNICEF Gala Dinner “Dreams Without Borders” was held in Almaty. The event raised 283 million tenge. According to UNICEF, these funds will be directed toward a program supporting adolescent mental health. Within the program, 50,500 specialists will be trained, 140,000 adolescents will receive psychological support, and 10,000 young people will have access to individual or group therapy.

UNICEF is launching a systemic program to support adolescent mental health in Kazakhstan. The program will be implemented in Almaty, Shymkent, and the Turkistan Region, including rural areas. The goal is to identify psychological difficulties early and provide specialized assistance.

According to UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, Rasheed Mustafa Sarwar, the program is designed for the long term, not just one year.

Statistics show that more than 13% of adolescents worldwide live with diagnosed mental health disorders. Suicide ranks third among causes of death among young people aged 15–29. In Kazakhstan, self-harm and suicide are among the leading causes of death among youth aged 15–34. Suicide rates in rural areas are 1.8–2.2 times higher than in cities, and 90% of such cases are linked to mental health issues that require timely support.