Urgent Action Needed as Mental Health Crisis Among Youth Reaches Alarming Levels

A recent report from The Lancet Psychiatry Commission has sounded the alarm over a worrying trend: a significant rise in mental health issues among young people, attributed to a confluence of societal challenges. Experts point to insecure employment, the climate crisis, and the pervasive influence of unregulated social media as key contributors to this alarming decline. The findings underscore a pressing need for action to address the root causes of mental ill health and to enhance treatment options for the youth. Led by Professor Patrick McGorry from Australia’s Orygen Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, the report emphasizes that mental ill health now accounts for at least 45% of the overall disease burden among individuals aged 10 to 24. Despite this, a mere 2% of global health budgets is allocated to mental health services. Professor McGorry expressed grave concern, stating, "If the rapid deterioration in health was happening in any other health area, like diabetes or cancer, there would be dramatic actions taken by governments." The report highlights a troubling disparity: even in affluent nations, less than half of the mental health needs of young individuals are met. This situation is exacerbated by a societal ambivalence toward youth issues, according to McGorry, who argues that the prevailing economic model of neoliberalism has prioritized individualism over community welfare, further fragmenting social bonds and eroding public services. The current generation of young people faces unprecedented challenges, McGorry explains. Many are grappling with financial insecurities, such as the soaring cost of housing, where the median home price often far exceeds the average annual salary. Compounding these issues is the unregulated realm of social media, which has been linked to rising isolation and a decline in mental well-being. "There are so many harmful things happening on the platforms which tech titans are responsible for, and they're completely a law unto themselves," he said. Voices from the youth echo these concerns. A 23-year-old advisor to Orygen, who identified only as Li, shared her personal experience with the darker side of the internet, having encountered damaging adult content at an early age. “I felt that the internet was a place for me to escape to or connect with other people, but instead, I was exposed to really unregulated, really bad stuff,” she lamented, highlighting a generational gap in understanding. The report finds that mental health issues are not just a concern for high-income countries; the consequences are even more severe in low- and middle-income nations, where the need for mental health services often goes unmet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these areas can experience near 100% unmet need for mental health care. WHO spokesperson Carla Drysdale emphasized that countries of all income levels can take steps to improve mental health services for the youth, advocating for the development of a non-specialist workforce to provide community-based mental health care. As suicide rates among young people continue to rise—with it being the leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 44 in Australia, 15 to 19 in New Zealand, and 15 to 39 in India—the urgency for action grows. Dr. Paul Denborough, a child and youth psychiatrist not involved in the commission's report, described the findings as "spot on," arguing that societal inequality and marginalization are destructive forces impacting youth well-being. Dr. Denborough insists on the importance of addressing the multiple stressors faced by young people, advocating for solutions that target the systemic root causes of their distress. "If society is not running that intergenerational fairness lens over what they're doing and addressing the causes, then you're just Band-Aiding the problem," he warned. The mounting evidence underscores a critical juncture in public health policy, demanding a reassessment of priorities to combat the mental health crisis among young people. The call to action is clear: a collective recognition of the challenges facing today’s youth and a commitment to forging a safer, more supportive environment for their growth and well-being.