Were Missing the Good News About Youth Mental Health

Jane Graham has been a school nurse for nearly 20 years – and during this time the nature of her work has completely changed. In 2020, health information systems in nearly half of low-income countries did not have capacity to disaggregate mental health data by age. To make this happen, it is critical that system strengthening is supported by strong leadership and governance, solid coordination across sectors, sufficient financing, a skilled and diverse workforce, and robust health information systems. In Viet Nam, for example, the government formally has initiated a process to create psychosocial counselling positions in all primary and secondary education schools. Every dollar invested in adolescent mental health yields an estimated US$24 return over 80 years. Through partnerships with youth-led and youth-serving organizations, including the Major Group on Children and Youth, the consultations gathered perspectives from thousands of young people across all regions, ensuring that the Report reflects lived realities and youth-informed policy priorities.

Epidemic rates of child and adolescent mental health disorders require an urgent response. Ultimately, promoting youth mental health is both a clinical and societal responsibility. While not central in this Research Topic, AI is rapidly entering youth mental health—offering new solutions and treatments but also raising ethical concerns. This theme highlights a range of strategies for promoting youth mental health across everyday settings. Taken together, these studies illustrate that knowledge alone does not guarantee service use; trust, stigma, and social context remain critical factors shaping pathways to care. Kusaka et al. investigated mental health literacy among Japanese caregivers of teenagers, finding that while most were willing to support teens experiencing mental health problems, their actual knowledge about mental health was limited.

in 7 children and teens impacted by mental health conditions

Further research is urgently required to understand megatrends impacting mental ill-health in order to quantify their relative effect and estimate their malleability. Wilkinson and Pickett (175)’s work highlights the role of socio-economic inequality, emphasizing how growing disparities and economic stressors exacerbate mental health issues. Despite this, politicians in several jurisdictions have been persuaded to implement age linked restrictions on access to the internet and social media for teenagers (216). Twenge’s research points to a correlation between the advent of smartphones and a decline in adolescent mental health (215).

Children’s Mental Health Week

“One of the points is to push back against the idea that we need to get as many people as possible into mental health care.” The network administers a national survey study of college student mental health and related factors. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association jointly declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health in 2021. For over a decade, researchers, policymakers, teachers, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/in-crisis/article/How-can-schools-provide-mental-health-services-17072714.php parents, and the media have been raising the alarm about the rising prevalence of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress among young people.

• Help us reach our mission our goal that no child or young person has to face a mental health problem alone.
• We also have information about other mental health services in our guide to support.
• Campaign for positive change for young people by raising your voice about mental health and helping shape the work we do.
• Ms Thain says more needs to be done to address the underlying factors for young people’s social media use.

Take a look at our official map and if you’re a school, community group or workplace, you can add yourselves. We love seeing everyone take part in the week! From assembly slides and class activities, to art projects and fundraising resources, we’ve got lots of resources and activities to help you get involved during the week. Whether you’re a primary school, secondary school, family, community group or workplace, we’ve got activities and resources for you. The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

From downloading a resource and holding an assembly, to organising a fundraiser and spreading the word, your support helped raise vital funds for children and young people. This year, Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week will aim to support the groups and systems surrounding our children. It can have powerful and long-lasting impacts in lots of areas of our lives, including our physical and mental health, education, employment and relationships. The theme for Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 is ‘This is My Place’, and our aim is to support the systems around children and young people to help them feel they belong.

The paper warns; “Mental ill health, which has been the leading health and social issue impacting the lives and futures of young people for decades, has entered a dangerous phase”. The commission’s paper, coauthored by psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers and young people, describes how young people are the highest users of the internet, often “constantly” online, and this has the potential for harm and risks mental health. In addition, poorly regulated social media and digital platforms, which drive political polarisation, are leaving young people feeling increasingly isolated, McGorry said. This global emphasis on individualism and competition is destroying social bonds, eroding public welfare and services and is empowering harmful industries and corporations, he said. Insecure employment, climate crisis and social media are driving ‘dangerous’ decline, research finds It underscores the importance of early action as an essential ingredient to enable children and young people realise their full potential.