Y-Check Study Shines at Global Conferences

The Y-Check study made strong impression at the 13th International Adolescent Health World Congress on Adolescent Health held in Jamaica from May 13–15, 2026, showcasing innovative research and practical solutions for improving adolescent health.

Farirai Nzvere opened the conference with a presentation about the patterns of health risk behaviours among adolescents in urban Zimbabwe, highlighting the need for inclusive care for both physical and mental health conditions and integrated health systems. Building on this, Faith Kandiye presented a poster highlighting the acceptability of adolescent

health check-ups among young people and their families, discussing stigma and access.

The Y-Check team further stood out during poster sessions, presenting work on:

1. Adolescent oral health and a scalable nurse-led training model, turning the hypothetical to reality.

2. Co-designing a digital health app with young people, ensuring that the study is patient centred to focus on what adolescents really need.

3. Highligting how Y-Check is a powerful Photovoice study capturing adolescent and parent wellbeing.

4. Validation of a mental health screening tool for adolescents

Day two featured a thought-provoking session on adolescent participation in research, presented by Farirai Nzvere on behalf of Aoife Doyle, sparking valuable discussion among global experts. This encouraged them to think not only of Zimbabwe, but of other low-resource settings that want to focus on supporting adolescent mental health.

The Congress concluded with a presentation by Chipo Nyamayaro on factors influencing referral uptake, which is an essential step in ensuring adolescents access care. This built on Farirai Nzvere's session, and both presenters drew strong international interest, with many delegates eager to adapt the Y-Check model in their own settings.

Building on its success in Jamaica, the Y-Check study continued to shine at the Bold Ideas for Brighter Futures Global Conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Cape Town on May 19, 2026.

At the conference, Chipo Nyamayaro presented key findings on mental health comorbidity and referral uptake among adolescents in urban Zimbabwe, reinforcing the urgent need

to address interconnected mental health challenges. Their most recent focuses suggest that physical conditions are often prioritised over mental health, meaning that an integrated care model is required to improve health systems.

The presentation further cemented Y-Check’s reputation as a leader in adolescent health research, particularly in advancing understanding of mental wellbeing in low-resource settings.

Together, these two global platforms highlighted the growing influence of the Y-Check study. From innovative research methods to practical, scalable solutions, the initiative continues to position Zimbabwe  at the forefront of adolescent health innovation worldwide.