Youth Violence Prevention: Prioritising Youth Mental Health: A Policy Imperative
In a paediatric clinic, doctors are seeing more teenagers with anxiety, depression, and stress-related complaints than ever before. One 14-year-old, “Jamal,” visits frequently with headaches and stomach aches – physical symptoms of underlying anxiety about school and the future. Jamal’s story is increasingly common. Experts have been sounding the alarm about a youth mental health crisis. Around 20% of adolescents experience a diagnosable mental health problem in any given yearmentalhealth.org.uk. Half of all mental disorders begin by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24mentalhealth.org.uk. Yet our systems are woefully unprepared: about 70% of young people who need mental health services do not receive appropriate care early onmentalhealth.org.uk. As policymakers, addressing youth mental health is not just a health issue – it’s about safeguarding the next generation’s potential and well-being.
The High Stakes: Untreated mental health issues in youth can derail lives. Depression and anxiety can lead to lower academic performance, increased dropout rates, and difficulty entering the workforce. Tragically, suicide has become a leading cause of death among young people in many countries. Beyond the human toll, there’s an economic cost: when young adults cannot fully participate in society due to mental illness, productivity suffers and healthcare costs rise due to crises that could have been prevented with early intervention.
Strengthening Early Intervention: Policies should ensure that mental health care is as accessible as a physical exam. This means integrating mental health professionals into school settings, where teens spend much of their time. For example, increasing funding to hire more school counselors, psychologists, or social workers can provide students like Jamal a trusted person to turn to. Routine mental health screenings in schools or pediatric offices can catch issues early – much like vision or hearing tests do. Some regions have mobile mental health clinics that visit schools, making it easier for youth to get help without stigma.
Expanding Services and Access: The 70% treatment gapmentalhealth.org.uk often stems from lack of services or barriers like cost and transportation. Government investment is needed to expand child and adolescent mental health services, especially in underserved areas. This might include establishing community youth mental health centers and ensuring services are covered by insurance or provided free for those in need. Tele-mental health (therapy via phone or video) is another avenue to reach youth, particularly in rural areas – policies should support its development and address privacy concerns.
Workforce and Training: There is a global shortage of child psychiatrists and therapists. Incentivize training in these specialties through scholarships or loan forgiveness for those who serve in high-need communities. Also, training general practitioners and pediatricians in basic mental health care can help widen the safety net – they can handle mild cases and refer severe ones appropriately.
Holistic and Preventative Approaches: Beyond clinical services, consider policies that foster environments conducive to good mental health. Promote school programs on social-emotional learning, which teach kids coping skills, empathy, and resilience. Implement anti-bullying legislation and online safety regulations, since bullying (both offline and cyber) is a known risk factor for mental illness. Encouraging schools to adopt reasonable homework loads and start times that align with adolescent sleep needs can also reduce stress. Public awareness campaigns can combat stigma, making it more likely that teens (and their parents) will seek help early rather than hide struggles.
A shining example comes from countries like Australia, which developed the “headspace” program – a national network of youth mental health centers offering easy-to-access, youth-friendly services. Since its launch, thousands of young Australians have gotten help in a comfortable setting, often before issues escalate.
Every Jamal deserves support to navigate life’s challenges. By prioritizing youth mental health in our policies and budgets, we send a clear message: we value our young people not just for the economic role they’ll play, but as human beings whose health and happiness matter. Investing in their mental well-being now will pay dividends in a healthier, more resilient society in the years to comementalhealth.org.uk.
