COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about mental health impact among everyone especially children and young adults. As we lead to the World Mental Health Day (Oct 10), let’s discuss latest thought leadership and global mental health reports this week.
Today’s discussion question:
How can healthcare and technology help to meet the mental health needs of the young generation?
Recent report by UNICEF on the State of the World’s Children 2021 examines the mental health of child, adolescent and caregiver. The report focuses on risks and protective factors at critical moments in the life course and delves into the social determinants that shape mental health and well-being.
Highlights of few findings:
– 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults (15 to 24 year olds) across 21 countries often feel depressed
– 89 million adolescent boys aged 10–19 and 77 million adolescent girls aged 10–19 live with a mental disorder
– Estimated 45,800 adolescents die from suicide each year -> more than 1 person every 11 minutes
– Annual loss in human capital arising from mental health conditions in children aged 0–19 is $387.2 billion (purchasing power parity dollars)