WHO and UNICEF release guidelines to improve mental health of children and adolescents

Globally, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 7 children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 will experience a mental health problem, with anxiety, depression and behavioural disorders being the most common. One third of mental health problems appear before the age of 14 and half before the age of 18. Early intervention is therefore crucial to help children and adolescents thrive and reach their full potential.

Child and adolescent mental health services are severely inadequate

The report points out that despite the huge need, children and adolescents still have insufficient access to mental health services. Most adolescents with mental health problems often cannot get the help they need due to systemic barriers such as service shortages, high costs and stigma. There is a general shortage of public funds and human resources for mental health services around the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

“We must take action to ensure that evidence-based and age-based psychological interventions are accessible and affordable to all,” said Christine Kostel, Director of WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Establishing a community mental health service system

Supporting the mental health of children and adolescents requires joint efforts from all sectors of society. The service guidelines released this time outline a variety of child and adolescent mental health service models and provide successful practice cases from around the world, aiming to show that even with limited resources, countries can also provide high-quality mental health services.

The guidelines also point out that millions of children with mental health problems around the world are institutionalized, even though they could be living at home. This practice not only violates the international human rights framework, but also leads to worse health and social outcomes. The guidelines call for the gradual abolition of institutional care and the use of community services to allow children to grow up in their families and communities, ensuring the continuity of their education, social relationships and holistic development.

A roadmap for driving change in mental health services

This service guide provides a clear set of standards for policymakers, health service planners and mental health professionals, offering a roadmap for improving existing services and developing new ones, with a focus on co-designing services, emphasizing talent team building, strengthening collaborative care practices, and improving decision-making transparency and service accountability.

Through these initiatives, countries can significantly remove key barriers that prevent children and adolescents from accessing mental health services and significantly improve the mental health of children and adolescents.