One in seven children and adolescents in the European region of World Health Organization lives with a mental disorder, according to a WHO report.

Girls are disproportionately affected, with one in four teenage girls aged 15-19 years experiencing a mental disorder. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 years.

The incidence of mental disorders has increased by a third in the last 15 years and services provided are not keeping pace with the growing needs.

In the WHO European Region:

* 1 in 4 countries have no community mental health services for children, adolescents and young people.

* 1 in 5 countries do not have a specific mental health policy for these groups.

* The quality of care varies widely across the Region.

* There is one psychiatrist per 76,000 children and adolescents in the countries of the Region.

The report, Child and Youth Mental Health in the WHO European Region: status and actions to strengthen quality of care, was presented by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, through its Office for Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens and the Mental Health and Well-being (MHW) Team.

The report brings together, for the first time, detailed data and evidence on the state of child and youth mental health across the Region, highlighting the significant and growing needs and critical gaps in the quality and accessibility of mental health services.

Call to action and improve quality of care

The report calls for immediate and coordinated action to close existing gaps and ensure all children and young people have access to quality, personalised mental health care.

The report sets out nine key actions to make progress:

1. Develop and coordinate national action plans and legislation.
2. Integrate incentives and funding for quality improvement.
3. Establishment of quality standards, protocols and clinical guidelines.
4. Adopting a culture of continuous quality improvement of care in all health care delivery systems.
5. Redesign service delivery models based on the needs of children, youth and caregivers.
6. Promoting the active participation and empowerment of children, young people, families and communities.
7. Investing in a workforce that meets the needs of the population.
8. Measuring outcomes that matter to children and their families.
9. Strengthening research and sharing of experiences around proven effective methods.

“Every child and young person has the right to supportive mental health services and quality care”

“This report is a resounding call to action in the WHO European Region. Every child and young person has the right to supportive mental health services and quality care. By acting now, countries can build resilient systems that will help future generations to thrive,” said Dr João Breda, Head of the WHO Office for Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens, Special Envoy and Head of the WHO Office in Greece.

“For the first time, WHO/Europe is bringing together detailed and in-depth data on child and adolescent mental health in a single report. Researchers, policy makers and health professionals can use this data to design services, formulate policies and monitor and evaluate interventions. This report is a milestone – it draws attention to a critical priority that will determine the future of our region,” underlined Dr Ledia Lazëri, Regional Advisor for Mental Health, WHO/Europe.