Mental Health Services Fail Adolescents - The Lancet Adolescent Health Series

March 27, 2007 – 8:26 pm | posted in Mental Health, Pediatrics, Psychology / Psychiatry

There is an urgent need to integrate youth mental-health interventions with all existing youth programmes*, including those in the health sector (such as reproductive and sexual health) and outside the sector (such as education), according to Vikram Patel (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK) and colleagues, while putting young people themselves at the centre of all policy-making. Most mental health disorders begin in adolescence and account for a large proportion of the disease burden in young people in all societies.

A strong association exists between poor mental health and many other health and development concerns for young people - educational achievements, substance use, violence, and reproductive and sexual health. Most mental-health-service needs are unmet, even in high-income countries, the rate of unmet need is nearly 100% in many developing countries.

The authors state: “It is imperative that youth mental health is actively supported and championed by international youth health-promotion programmes and donors”.

In an accompanying Comment, Vittoria Tonin from Australia gives a personal account of her battle with mental illness, and states: “Often teenagers are unaware of their condition, do not know where to seek help, do not want to be treated differently to their peers, or are ashamed of their illness. . .Our health systems need to take the next step forward in removing barriers between health professionals and young people. Our health systems need to start listening to what we are saying and what we are asking for”.

Mental health services fail adolescents
Dr Vikram Patel, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London

ShareThis