Furthermore, a third of mental health problems arise before the age of 14 and half before the age of 18.
Released ahead of World Mental Health Day, celebrated annually on October 10, the report seeks to support the transformation of mental health services for children and adolescents.
It underlines the importance of early action as an essential ingredient in enabling children and young people to reach their full potential.
Inaccessibility of mental health services.
Despite the need for action, access to services remains largely inaccessible.
Most youth experiencing concerning mental health symptoms are unable to access care due to systemic barriers such as low availability of services, unaffordable costs, and stigma that prevent them from seeking help.
Furthermore, while public funding and human resources for services are generally low worldwide, those for children and adolescents are particularly inaccessible, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“We must take steps to ensure that evidence-based, 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,” he added.
Community model
The report stipulates that supporting the mental health of children and adolescents must be a collective effort. While there is no single optimal model, it provides examples from around the world that show what can be achieved in different environments.
“The 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, UNICEF Deputy Director of Health.
The report also draws attention to the millions of children with mental health problems around the world who are institutionalized, despite having existing families, arguing that this practice violates their human rights and leads to poor health and social outcomes.
Phase out institutional care
Calls for the gradual elimination of institutional care in favor of community services that allow children to grow in their families and communities, guaranteeing the continuity of their education, their social relationships and their general development.
“It is our collective responsibility to prioritize their mental health as part of the overall well-being of children and adolescents,” Ms. Shafique said.
