Poor mental health in children is on the rise – what can we do about it?

The growing burden of mental ill health is one of the most pressing public health concerns of our time. And it’s becoming increasingly apparent that poor mental health can start early in life.

Over the past 30 years, mental disorders have become increasingly prevalent in young people, particularly in developed economies. A fifth of adolescents in Europe are affected by mental disorders, with anxiety, depression and eating disorders all on the rise; suicide is the leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. Figures are similar across the US, where 20% of adolescents report having unmet mental health care needs.

Against this backdrop, medical and support services are overloaded, with many young people struggling to access timely, effective, youth-friendly support. The majority of children and adolescents worldwide who experience a mental disorder don’t seek help or receive care.

Of course, there is no single underlying cause for rising poor mental health, with many interlinked factors often at play. Adolescence is a crucial and formative time for developing mental wellbeing and exposure to risk factors can have a significant impact. Traumatic experiences, socioeconomic disadvantage, systemic inequalities, and healthcare access gaps all have a role to play.

For example, in the UK over a quarter of children with a probable mental disorder had a parent who could not afford to take part in activities outside of school. Poor mental health is also more common in young women than young men.

The COVID pandemic is often cited as having heightened and highlighted many of the issues driving this trend, and has undoubtedly left a lasting impact: post-COVID anxiety continues to drive increased absence rates at schools. But it is only part of the story. There are also wider societal, developmental and structural changes having an impact.

These include, for example, educational policies that emphasize academic achievement, and longer school hours, which result in more stress and less time to play, Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London, argues.

Alongside this, a more protective and safety-conscious approach to parenting, while well-intentioned, has restricted young people’s ability to build resilience, confidence and emotional strength, he says.

Another often-criticized source of stress comes from the rise of social media, which has driven unrealistic expectations of perfectionism and self-comparison. And technology more broadly can drive social isolation, lack of sleep and reduced physical activity, which are all contributing factors to conditions like depression.

Given the pivotal role youth have in shaping the future and influencing communities and workforces, steps to tackle the negative factors affecting youth wellbeing was a topic under much discussion during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year. Speaking there, Professor of Ethical Leadership, Stern School of Business, New York University, Jonathan Haidt, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas, State of Arkansas, added to the growing voices arguing for smartphone-free schools or, better still, childhoods.

All of these risk factors make turning the tide on the problem a significant challenge, with multifaceted solutions needed.

Failing to address mental health conditions in childhood can have lifelong implications, with conditions often extending into adulthood, impairing physical and mental health, and limiting opportunities to live a fulfilling life.

Beyond the human cost, the impact of poorer mental health is being felt by healthcare systems, workforces and the economy more broadly. The Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board in the UK has called the issue “an urgent social concern”, highlighting that it is also holding back growth plans. Childhood mental health issues lead to $1.3 trillion of lost earnings across the current UK generation, the Centre For Mental Health says.

Despite the clear and growing need for action and better mental health support, mental health services for children remain largely inaccessible, the WHO and UNICEF say. They are underfunded and underresourced, many argue.

In Europe, the WHO is launching a set of standards to govern and improve youth mental health care, tackling issues like insufficiently trained professionals, a lack of tailored support, and long waiting times.

The rise in digital tools to support people with mental ill health is in many ways welcome, potentially providing affordable and accessible support at a time and place it’s needed. To realize their full potential they must be carefully governed. The Global Governance Toolkit for Digital Mental Health, produced by the Forum and Deloitte, explores how we can enable these disruptive technologies to help us thrive, but in an ethical and responsible manner.

Other important steps include improving and establishing community support systems, recognizing that supporting mental health is a collective effort and early intervention is often the most effective.

Exercise has also been shown to be an effective tool, with research showing that physical activity was useful both in reducing the risk factors of poor mental health, but also having a positive impact on those with diagnosed conditions. Aerobic plus resistance exercises were shown to be particularly effective against symptoms of depression.

Finally, a greater awareness and openness to talk about mental health – at all ages – is helpful in recognizing the signs and symptoms and enabling people to seek help.