Strengthening mental health and psychosocial support systems and services for children and adolescents in East Asia and the Pacific

In East Asia and the Pacific, almost 1 in 7 boys and 1 in 9 girls aged 10-19 years have a mental disorder, with suicide the third leading cause of death of 15-19 year-olds in this region.

Despite this, there remains high unmet need for mental health and psychosocial support and services (MHPSS). This is particularly so for children and adolescents living in the East Asia and Pacific region because of the stigma around mental health, and substantial barriers to accessing quality services and support.

To better address mental health and psychosocial wellbeing for children and adolescents there is a need to mobilise all sectors-including health, education, social welfare / child protection, and the justice sector to ensure access to services and supports that respond to mental health needs, address risk and protective factors, and ensure a safe and enabling environment that promotes wellbeing.Mental health is one of the most neglected health issues globally. Before COVID-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that 10–20 per cent of children and adolescents worldwide experienced poor mental health, with half of mental health conditions beginning by age 14.