Alarm as youth mental health is a 'global crisis', according to new world-leading study
Posted 19 August, 2024
New research reveals an "unprecedented" mental health crisis among young people, with calls to make the matter an “international health priority".
Intergenerational inequality, unregulated social media, insecure employment and the climate crisis are driving a global surge in mental ill health among youth, (opens in a new window)according to a new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal.
Evidence suggests that in many countries, the mental health of young people has been declining over the past two decades, and changes in many societies are increasing mental ill health.
The report was released by Orygen - Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health -following years of extensive research and was developed by an international team of researchers, including (opens in a new window)Professor Barbara Dooley, Dean of Graduate Studies & Deputy Registrar at University College Dublin.
Professor Patrick McGorry, lead author of the report and Executive Director of Orygen, the new study is a “major step” towards the recognition of youth mental health as an “international health priority”.
According to the research, mental illness accounts for 45% of the overall burden of disease in individuals aged 10-24 years globally.
It also found the need for mental health support for this age bracket has risen by 50% in the last two decades.
Youth (opens in a new window)#MentalHealth has been in decline over the past 20 years & is entering a dangerous phase, warn experts in a new Lancet Psychiatry Commission.
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) (opens in a new window)August 14, 2024
Explore the drivers & evidence-based recommendations for change (opens in a new window)https://t.co/gcaq2rOQgb (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/iigtJUmdNK
Speaking on (opens in a new window)RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime, Professor Dooley said there was an urgent need to address the driving factors behind the growth in mental ill health and improve mental health treatments for young people as mental illnesses have their peak onset at age 15 years.
“Some of the things we think are really important in terms of what young people are exposed to versus to past generations are a lot more complex.
“A couple of generations ago reaching adulthood physically was a key thing but now the number one issue young people are going to encounter is a mental health one.
“When we look at data over 20 years ago, we can see a step change in the number of young people experiencing mental health and mental health difficulties.”
Early intervention is crucial to stymie rates of premature death, disability and lost potential, all of which have escalated over the past two decades, she added.
“We need to invest in the mental health of young people at a time when it will make an impact, so we need to think about early intervention because we do know if these difficulties persist over time, they can stay with someone throughout their entire lives. If there is intervention early on, we can change that journey… not just in Ireland, but globally we need a lot more investment."
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
