A new World Health Organization report underscores the urgent and growing behavioral health needs of adolescents worldwide.
The organization’s report, published Sept. 1, found rising rates of depression and anxiety, as well as suicide, substance use and eating disorders to be the most prevalent mental health challenges among younger demographics.
Here are eight key takeaways:
- One in seven adolescents faces a mental health condition. Globally, about 14% of 10- to 19-year-olds live with a mental health condition, making up 15% of the disease burden in this age group.
- Depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders are among the most common conditions.
- Suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death for ages 15-29. Risk factors include harmful alcohol use, childhood trauma, stigma around seeking help, limited access to care and the availability of lethal means.
- Risks extend far beyond adolescence. Unaddressed mental health challenges can impair physical health, limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives into adulthood.
- Vulnerable groups face higher risks. Adolescents living in humanitarian and fragile settings or marginalized communities, as well as those with chronic illness or neurological conditions, experience heightened exposure to stigma, exclusion and barriers to care.
- Though less common than other mental health conditions, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa often begin in adolescence and carry one of the highest mortality rates of any mental health disorder.
- Substance use starts young. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use often take root in the teenage years, with harmful patterns persisting into adulthood. WHO data shows 22% of 15- to 19-year-olds reported alcohol use in 2019.
- Prevention works best in schools and communities. Protective environments — such as social care settings, in classrooms and across digital platforms — play a critical role in reducing stigma, promoting resilience and deterring risk behaviors.
