Adolescent mental health
Promotion and prevention at a community level, coordinated between different sectors, could help to foster youth resilience and non-specialist mental healthcare provision is a promising approach in low-resource settings but must be adapted to local needs.
Abstract
Adolescent mental health disorders have serious health and socioeconomic consequences and may persist into adulthood and affect future generations. They account for four of the top ten causes of DALYs among young people, with suicide as the main cause of adolescent mortality. New threats are constantly emerging and changing with urbanisation, social media, and armed conflicts. As a neglected area of public health, resources are needed to improve awareness and develop global research, policies and training. Stakeholder involvement and government commitment are also essential to address the gap between burden and resource allocation. Promotion and prevention at a community level, coordinated between different sectors, could help to foster youth resilience. Non-specialist mental healthcare provision is a promising approach in low-resource settings but must be adapted to local needs.