Dion Ras

Dion Ras is an advocate for youth mental health from the Netherlands. At the Global Mental Health Action Network, he has advocated for greater investment into community mental health initiatives and initiatives targeting children's/youth mental health at the UN Multi-Stakeholder Hearing in New York, UNICEF HQ, and UN permanent mission representatives of various EU countries. At the World Health Organization, he has co-created a strategy for youth participation and helped develop international quality standards for youth mental healthcare. At @ease (a peer support organization based in the Netherlands), he co-founded its national youth council. As an executive committee member at IAYMH, he co-organized the IAYMH2025 conference and assists in directing the strategy of the organization. Beyond advocacy, Dion also has 10 years of experience as a peer-support worker, using his lived experience to provide psychological support to young people.