International Day of Hope Date in the current year: July 12, 2025

According to psychologist C. R. Snyder, hope is a combination of agency, or the motivation to pursue goals, and pathway thinking, or the perceived ability to find ways to achieve these goals. Studies using brain imaging indicate that hope stimulates areas tied to reward and motivation, such as the ventral tegmental area. This area also plays a role in alleviating depressive symptoms.

Studies consistently link higher levels of hope to lower rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related stress. These mental health benefits extend to the body as well. For example, cancer patients with higher levels of hope tend to adhere more closely to treatment plans and have better survival outcomes. In early adulthood, higher hope is associated with improved long-term health, and sustained hope is linked to fewer emergency room visits and lower short-term mortality rates.

Hope also plays a crucial role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Good health and well-being: Hope contributes to mental well-being and encourages greater patient engagement with medical treatment.
• Quality education: Hope fosters student motivation and improves academic achievement.
• Decent work and economic growth: Hope fuels ambition, entrepreneurship, and savings.
• Climate action: Hope helps sustain the long-term commitment necessary to address global environmental challenges.

Experience has shown that development programs that integrate hope-building strategies, such as mentoring and coaching, tend to improve the lives of people living in poverty more effectively.

Hope is a powerful catalyst for personal recovery and collective resilience. It builds social trust, promotes civic engagement, reduces polarization, and reinforces a shared sense of identity. These qualities promote inclusion, peace, and sustainable development, all of which are essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16: peace, justice, and strong institutions.

The International Day of Hope was originally conceived by global mental health leaders, including the nonprofit organization iFred, which works to shine a positive light on mental health and eliminate stigma. In 2025, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized the day to highlight the role of hope in facing global challenges and achieving sustainable development goals. The day also serves as a reminder that hope is a collective responsibility, not just a personal virtue.

The UN General Assembly encourages governments, educators, local leaders, health professionals, philanthropies, the media, and individuals to participate in the International Day of Hope by organizing events and activities such as talks, public campaigns, mentoring programs, support groups, art exhibitions, performances, interfaith gatherings, volunteer programs, and community events.