Alberto Ortiz Lobo
Doctor of Medicine and Psychiatrist at the Carlos III Day Hospital - La Paz University Hospital (Madrid)
The article is an analysis of the deterioration of mental health among young people, conducted by a commission of mental health professionals from various countries. It is a call to action for politicians, health officials, and society at large to address the global mental health crisis in the youth population. Notably, despite the academic profile of the professionals on the commission and the usual biomedical content of the journal, the analysis presented is broad and goes beyond purely clinical aspects. The text calls for changes in government policies to tackle the social determinants of mental health, climate change, geopolitical insecurity, the impact of new technologies, and the "serious socioeconomic consequences of unchecked neoliberal policies that have worsened inequality, especially intergenerational inequality." To address these issues, the article advocates for reasonable access for young people to financial support, secure housing, and social supports, among other socioeconomic measures.
Regarding the provision of healthcare services, the text highlights the need to prioritize child and adolescent mental health through primary care, which maximizes access and acceptability and should be the central focus of the proposed reforms. The article also emphasizes that all measures must be adapted to the cultural and socioeconomic contexts of different countries, which may require specific and localized strategies. If we want to improve the mental health of young people, we must start by ensuring that their lives are worth living, with the hope for a future in a safer world with fewer inequalities.