What Works in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
It is estimated that around 20% of the world’s adolescents have a mental health or behavioral problem. Depressive disorders, anxiety, behavioral problems, and self-harm are among the greatest contributors to young people’s burden of disease, and suicide consistently ranks among the leading causes of death for older adolescent girls and boys (ages 15-19) globally. Yet, mental health resources are very scarce and investment in mental health is < 1% of the health budget in many low and middle income countries (LMIC).
Poverty, low education, social exclusion, gender, conflict, and disasters are the major social determinants of mental disorders. Poor mental health is strongly associated with other negative health and development outcomes including higher rates of substance use, early pregnancy, school dropout, delinquent behaviors, and suicide, and can contribute to mental disorders and poor health later in life, with an estimated three-quarters of adult mental health disorders starting before the age of 24. Poor mental health also impacts economic development through lost production and consumption opportunities at both the individual and societal levels. It is estimated that the lost economic output caused by untreated mental disorders as a result of diminished productivity at work, reduced rates of labor participation, and increased welfare payments amounts to more than 10 billion days of lost work annually – the equivalent of US$1 trillion per year. Meta-analyses of gender differences in mental health indicate that gender difference in depression emerges as early as age 12, and that diagnosing and noticing symptoms of depression at that age have important implications for the timing of preventive interventions. Gender determines the differential power and control men and women have, their social position, status and treatment in society, and their susceptibility and exposure to specific mental health risks. Strengthening gender-responsive care and services for adolescents with mental disorders should be a priority but this will need additional investment in research and programming. Further research is required to better understand the local needs of adolescents and identify effective interventions to improve their mental health.
The inclusion of mental health and substance abuse in the Sustainable Development Goals is an opportunity to invest in the prevention and treatment of mental health through the strengthening of health systems, prioritizing mental health on the global healthcare agenda, improving organization of and integrating mental health services into programming, addressing the gendered drivers of mental health, and developing policies to inform the design and implementation of gender-responsive interventions in LMICs. Increased efforts to meet the health needs of adolescents are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and represent a worthwhile opportunity for investment.
This section is divided into the following subsections:
MHPSS in Emergencies and Humanitarian Aid