The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that one in seven adolescents globally suffer from mental health disorders, with suicide ranking as the third leading cause of death among young people worldwide. These mental health challenges, if untreated, can severely disrupt education, employment opportunities, relationships, and overall life prospects.
Despite the growing need, investment in mental health remains alarmingly low. On average, mental health accounts for less than 2% of national health budgets, with even smaller portions dedicated to children and adolescents. In many low-income countries, fewer than one mental health professional is available per 100,000 children, leaving large populations without access to care.
To combat this, WHO advocates for a comprehensive, multisectoral approach—strengthening policies, legislation, and supportive environments across families, schools, communities, and digital spaces, alongside expanding prevention and treatment services. Vietnam, for instance, has launched a nationwide initiative to introduce psychosocial counseling roles in all primary and secondary schools.
Targeted support for caregivers can reduce the risk of mental health problems in children by up to 40%, particularly in families facing adversity. Schools play a pivotal role in promoting wellbeing, with anti-bullying campaigns and social-emotional learning programs proving effective in enhancing mental health and academic success. Broader community efforts to reduce stigma, violence, and social challenges further support mental wellness.
Concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health have prompted regulatory actions in some countries, though evidence on effective public health strategies remains limited. Promising interventions include training youth and caregivers in responsible digital use and implementing safety tools to protect online spaces.
Mental health services must address prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, delivered through both healthcare and community settings like schools and youth centers. WHO calls for expanding community-based care while phasing out reliance on institutionalization.
System strengthening depends on robust leadership, cross-sector coordination, sufficient funding, a skilled workforce, and improved data collection. WHO, in partnership with UNICEF and national governments, runs a Joint Programme on Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing for Children and Adolescents, enhancing services for over 10 million young people annually.
Examples of effective national programs include Serbia’s digital platform for education and counseling, Côte d’Ivoire’s deployment of social workers to crisis-affected areas, Kenya’s peer counseling model in schools, and Brazil’s community psychosocial care centers.
WHO emphasizes the urgent need to improve accountability and mental health data monitoring worldwide, especially in low-income countries where data remains inadequate.
Related Topics
