One in 7 children and adolescents in the WHO European Region lives with a mental health condition, finds new WHO/Europe report

WHO/Europe, through its Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens, Greece, and its mental health and well-being team, launched the new report, "Child and youth mental health in the WHO European Region. Status and actions to strengthen quality of care".

The report brings together, for the first time, comprehensive data on the state of child and youth mental health across the Region. It reveals significant and growing mental health needs among young people, alongside critical gaps in the quality and accessibility of care.

Mental health challenges on the rise

According to the report, 1 in 7 children and adolescents in the Region lives with a mental health condition. Females are disproportionately affected, with 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 living with a mental health condition. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29.

The prevalence of mental health conditions among children and adolescents aged 0-19 has increased by one third over the past 15 years. Yet, services have not kept pace with this rising demand.

Across the Region:

• 1 in 4 countries lacks community-based mental health services for children, adolescents and youth;
• 1 in 5 countries has no dedicated policy addressing their mental health needs;
• the quality of care of mental health services varies greatly between countries; and
• there is only 1 psychiatrist for every 76 000 children and adolescents.

A call to strengthen quality of care

The report calls for urgent and coordinated action to close these gaps and ensure that all children and young people can access high-quality, person-centred mental health care. It sets out 9 priority actions for governments and partners:

1. Develop and coordinate national action plans and legislation.
2. Incorporate incentives and financing for quality improvement.
3. Set quality standards, protocols and clinical guidelines.
4. Embed continuous quality improvement across systems.
5. Redesign service models around the needs of children, youth and caregivers.
6. Engage and empower children, young people, families and communities.
7. Invest in a workforce that meets population needs.
8. Measure outcomes that matter to children and families.
9. Research and share lessons on what works.

"This report is a wake-up call for the Region. Every child and young person has the right to mental health support and high-quality care. By acting now, countries can build resilient systems that help the next generations thrive," notes Dr João Breda, Head of the WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety and Special Representative and Officer in Charge at the WHO Country Office in Greece.

Dr Ledia Lazëri, Regional Adviser for Mental Health at WHO/Europe, underlines, "This is the first time WHO/Europe has brought together comprehensive data on child and youth mental health into one place. Researchers, policy-makers and clinicians can use it to make informed decisions for service development, policy-making, and monitoring and evaluation."

Dr Lazëri adds, "This landmark report is a turning point, drawing long-overdue attention to a growing priority that will shape the future of our Region."

The publication forms part of WHO/Europe's broader efforts to support countries in transforming mental health-care delivery and ensuring equitable, high-quality services for all.

The full report is available via the link.