At least one in seven adolescents worldwide now suffer from a mental disorder, with rising rates of depression and anxiety, according to a new report released by the World Health Organisation.
The report, unveiled at the United Nations’ Summit of the Future on September 23, 2024, highlighted an urgent need for increased global investment in adolescent health services, particularly in addressing mental health and sexual and reproductive health needs for the world’s nearly 1.3 billion adolescents aged 10-19.
“Promoting and protecting the health and rights of young people is essential to building a better future for our world,” said Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.
“Conversely, failing to address the health threats that adolescents face – some longstanding, some emerging – will not only have serious and life-threatening consequences for young people themselves, but will create spiraling economic costs for societies.
“That makes investing in services and programs for adolescent health both a moral imperative and an economic no-brainier,” the DG added.
The report details a number of troubling health trends affecting adolescents globally.
“While the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls remains similar to levels recorded in 2010, close to 1 in 10 adolescents are now obese, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like syphilis and chlamydia are on the rise. Untreated STIs can have lifelong impacts on health,” the WHO warns.
“Adolescents are powerful and incredibly creative forces for good when they are able to shape the agenda for their well-being and their future,” said Rajat Khosla, Executive Director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), which co-hosted the event where the report was launched.
“Leaders must listen to what young people want and ensure they are active partners and decision-makers.
“They are critical for the world’s future social, economic, and political stability, and if given the platform they need, they can help make a better and healthier world possible for everyone.”
The release also addressed the broader risks facing adolescents today, including climate change, conflict, and inequality.
The WHO warns that efforts to restrict adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health care, as well as comprehensive sexuality education, are gaining momentum, with restrictive age-of-consent policies limiting access to STI and HIV services.
Such measures, the report argued, can lead to marginalised youth, reducing their likelihood to seek essential health care and potentially worsening health outcomes.
While many of these trends paint a bleak picture, the WHO also noted areas where progress has been made.
“Adolescent HIV infections have significantly decreased thanks to coordinated global efforts, and harmful practices like female genital mutilation and early marriage have seen a decline.
“Furthermore, the number of secondary-school-age children out of school has dropped by nearly 30% since 2000, which has contributed to improved health outcomes, especially for girls,” it added.
Earlier this year, at the World Health Assembly, world leaders committed to accelerating efforts to improve maternal and child health, including adolescent health.
These commitments, along with those outlined in the UN’s Pact for the Future, will be critical to securing the health and well-being of current and future generations.
The WHO’s latest report strengthens the call for immediate investment in services and programs that protect adolescent health, including healthcare, education, and nutrition.
