Over the past 15 years, the prevalence of mental disorders among children and adolescents has increased by a third. WHO: One in seven children and adolescents in Europe and Central Asia suffer from mental health problems Health
Mental disorders among children and young people are becoming increasingly common, but the quality and availability of care does not match the scale of the problem. This is stated in the new report of the European Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO/Europe).
For the first time, the report brings together comprehensive data on the state of mental health of children and young people in the region.
Shortages of psychological services
According to the report, one in seven children and adolescents in the region uniting countries of Europe and Central Asia is living with a mental disorder. Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable, with one in four girls aged 15–19 experiencing mental health problems. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among youth ages 15–29.
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The prevalence of mental disorders among children and adolescents has increased by a third over the past 15 years, but the development of services has not kept pace with the growing demand for them.
According to WHO, a quarter of the countries in the region lack mental health services for children and teenagers locally. At the same time, 20 percent of countries do not have targeted policy measures in the field of psychological needs of children, adolescents and young people.
The quality of mental health care varies significantly between countries. On average, there is only one psychiatrist for every 76 thousand children and adolescents.
Improve the quality of care
WHO calls for urgent and concerted action to close gaps and ensure all children and young people have access to high-quality, person-centred care. The report’s authors propose nine priority actions for governments and partner organizations:
- Develop and implement national action plans and legislation.
- Introduce incentives and funding to improve the quality of services.
- Establish standards, protocols and clinical guidelines.
- Implement continuous quality improvement measures across all systems.
- Rebuild models of care around the needs of children, young people and their loved ones.
- Involve children, families and local communities.
- Invest in workforce development that meets community needs.
- Measure results according to the priorities of children and their families.
- Research and disseminate effective practices.
“This report is a wake-up call for the region. Every child and young person has the right to mental health support and quality care. By taking action now, countries can build sustainable systems that will support the prosperity of future generations,” said Joao Breda, head of the WHO office for quality of care and patient safety.