A recent report highlights a troubling global increase in mental health problems among young people, driven by several critical factors including intergenerational inequality, unregulated social media, wage theft, insecure employment, and the climate crisis. The study, conducted by The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health, emphasizes the urgent need to address these issues and improve mental health care to prevent rising rates of premature death, disability, and lost potential.
Published on Wednesday, the report was led by Prof. Patrick McGorry, Executive Director of Australia’s Orygen Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health. McGorry described the situation as “the most serious public health problem we’ve got.” He noted that if similar declines were observed in other health areas, such as diabetes or cancer, governments would take dramatic actions.
The report reveals that mental health issues account for at least 45% of the overall disease burden among people aged 10 to 24. Despite this, only 2% of global health budgets are allocated to mental health care. Even in wealthy nations, less than half of the mental health needs are met.
McGorry criticized society’s often indifferent attitude towards young people’s needs and attributed the crisis to the economic system of neoliberalism, which he believes has commodified all aspects of life. This focus on individualism and competition, he argues, has eroded social bonds and public services while empowering harmful industries.
McGorry compared today’s challenges to those faced by previous generations, stating that despite past hardships like the Great Depression and world wars, today’s youth face unprecedented difficulties. He pointed out that in many countries, housing costs are several times the average annual salary, and poorly regulated social media platforms are exacerbating isolation and political polarization among young people.
One 23-year-old adviser to Orygen, known only as Li, shared her personal experience of early exposure to pornography online, which she said severely impacted her self-esteem and body image. Li criticized the lack of regulation on digital platforms, which she feels are harmful and poorly understood by older generations.
The commission’s report, which includes contributions from psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers, and young people, describes how constant internet use among young people poses significant risks to their mental health. The report warns that mental ill health, a longstanding issue, is now reaching a dangerous level and affecting the future of young people.
An analysis by King’s College London notes that while the report primarily draws on data from high-income countries, the majority of children and adolescents live in low- and middle-income countries, where mental health needs are often unmet. Carla Drysdale from the World Health Organization highlighted that the level of unmet mental health needs in these regions can approach 100%.
Drysdale stressed that all countries, regardless of their resources, can improve mental health prevention and care for young people. Building a non-specialist workforce, including school counselors, community-based workers, and peer supporters, is essential for addressing this global crisis.
