WHO/Europe has released a new report titled “Child and youth mental health in the WHO European Region: Status and actions to strengthen quality of care”, developed by its Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens and the mental health and well-being team. This comprehensive publication brings together, for the first time, detailed data on the mental health of children and young people across the Region, highlighting increasing needs and major gaps in the quality and accessibility of services.
The findings show that mental health challenges among young people are rising at an alarming rate. Currently, one in seven children and adolescents lives with a mental health condition, with girls aged 15–19 particularly affected—one in four is living with a mental health disorder. Suicide remains the leading cause of death among those aged 15–29. Over the past 15 years, mental health conditions among children and adolescents aged 0–19 have increased by one third, yet service expansion has not kept up.
The report also reveals significant disparities across countries. A quarter of countries in the Region lack community-based mental health services for children and young people, while one in five has no dedicated mental health policy for this age group. The quality of available services varies widely, and there is just one psychiatrist per 76,000 children and adolescents.
In response, WHO/Europe is urging governments and partners to take coordinated, urgent action to strengthen mental health care for young people. The report outlines nine priority steps, including the development of national action plans and legislation, establishing quality standards and clinical guidelines, redesigning services to better meet the needs of children and caregivers, expanding the mental health workforce, and investing in research and outcome measurement.
Dr. João Breda, Head of the WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety and Officer in Charge at the WHO Country Office in Greece, emphasized that the findings should serve as a wake-up call, stressing that every young person deserves access to high-quality mental health care. Dr. Ledia Lazëri, WHO/Europe’s Regional Adviser for Mental Health, highlighted the report’s significance as the first of its kind and a critical tool for informed decision-making in policy and service development. She noted that the publication marks an important turning point in addressing a growing regional priority.
The report forms part of WHO/Europe’s broader efforts to support countries in transforming mental health services and ensuring equitable, high-quality care for all children and young people across the Region.
