One in seven young people aged 10 to 19 live with a diagnosable mental disorder, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). One in four children lives with a parent with a mental health condition. Suicide is the fourth most significant cause of death for adolescents globally.

The economic cost of neglecting youth mental health is estimated at around $387.2 billion annually for children ages 0 to 19, also according to UNICEF.

“Adolescents are really struggling globally,” Zeinab Hijazi, a clinical psychologist and global mental health lead at UNICEF, told Garry Aslanyan on a recent episode of his Global Health Matters podcast. “It is really unfathomable that we know this, and we know that all of these conditions, most of them are treatable, but they go undetected, and they go untreated.”

The state of mental health challenges amongst youth was the focus of the latest podcast in honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10 and in light of the growing causes behind these disorders.

Hijazi noted that many young people are contending with the devastating impacts of wars and conflicts in places like Gaza, the Congo, and Sudan, while others face the immediate threats of climate crises or unemployment.

Jaime Young, a passionate youth leader, mental health advocate, and family caseworker at the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund in the Caribbean, joined the discussion. In her region, a staggering 24% of youth experience mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression accounting for nearly 50% of mental health issues amongst those aged 10 to 19, Young explained.

Young identified one of the reasons as heightened stressors.

“We have a lot more stresses, and then depression can be something that, if you are not sure how to cope with or if you do not have that support, whether it is with your family or friends, you feel like your back is against the wall. You feel anxious, you have anxiety, you are depressed, and you cannot talk to anybody about it because access to actual resources, a counsellor or a therapist, is extremely expensive where available—and where they are not, they are just not.”

She pointed out that mental health disorders remain a “taboo subject” with a persistent “stigma” around seeking help. Additionally, the region often lacks affordable resources for youth mental health support.

Nevertheless, Young emphasised the need to raise awareness and take action. She urged those struggling with mental health issues to seek help.

“I would say prioritise your mental health,” Young said. “I know you might hear it everywhere or see it everywhere, but it is one thing when we are sick or have a broken bone; we make it our duty to go to the doctor. And it always baffles me that when we know or suspect we have a mental health issue, we do not look for the resources. We ignore it.”

She continued, “Do not ignore your mental health because you need your mind; you need to be healthy.”

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Image Credits: Global Health Matters | TDR.