One in seven children and teens impacted by mental health conditions
Around one in seven children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 are affected
by mental health conditions – with anxiety, depression and behavioural
disorders among the most common, according to a new World Health Organization
and UN Children’s Fund report
released on Wednesday.
In
addition, one-third of mental health conditions emerge before the age of 14 and
half before the age of 18.
Published
ahead of World Mental Health
Day, celebrated annually on 10 October, the report seeks to support the
transformation of mental health services for children and adolescents.
It underscores
the importance of early action as an essential ingredient to enable children
and young people realise their full potential.
Inaccessibility of mental health services
Despite the need for action,
access to services remains largely inaccessible.
Most young
people experiencing concerning mental health symptoms cannot access care due to
systemic barriers such as low service availability, unaffordable costs and
stigma preventing them from seeking help.
Further, while
public funding and human resources for services is low worldwide in general,
those aimed at children and adolescents are particularly unavailable,
especially in low and middle-income countries.
“We
must take action to ensure that evidence-based and age-appropriate
interventions are available and affordable for all,” said
Dévora Kestel, Director of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use at the
World Health Organization (WHO).
“Every
country, regardless of its circumstances, can do something to significantly
improve the mental health of its children, young people and
their families,” she added.
Community-based model
The report
stipulates that supporting the mental health of children and teens must be a
collective effort. While there is no single best model, it provides examples
from around the world that show what can be achieved in different settings.
“Mental health
and well-being of children, adolescents and their families cannot be addressed
in isolation. We must integrate health, education, social protection and
community support systems to build a comprehensive network of mental health
services for young people,” said Fouzia Shafique, Associate Director of Health
at UNICEF.
The report
also draws attention to the millions of children with mental health conditions
worldwide who are institutionalised, despite having existing families, arguing
that this practice violates their human rights and leads to poor health and
social outcomes.
Phase out
institutional care
It calls for
the phasing out of institutional care in favour of community-based services
that allow children to grow in their families and communities, ensuring
continuity in their education, social relationships and overall development.
“It is our collective
responsibility to prioritise their mental health as part of overall child and
adolescent well-being,” said Shafique.