Reacción a "The mental health of young people has worsened in the last two decades"

The article is an expert opinion piece involving professionals from all five continents within the commissions, and created by The Lancet and its associated journals, in this case, The Lancet Psychiatry. The work also includes contributions from individuals with lived experience of mental disorders. 

The article reviews the potential causes for the increase in mental disorders among young people (between 12 and 25 years old) in recent decades. Several biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors may explain this rise. One factor that significantly affects this segment of the population is the drastic increase in social media use. Given that these are complex disorders with multiple risk factors, a comprehensive approach is needed to address them. 

The article recommends reforming care models to improve accessibility to mental health services, strengthening mental health prevention from an early age, and integrating sectors beyond healthcare (such as education, social services, and justice). Services should be free from stigma. There is also a need for greater investment in awareness at school, university, and workplace levels, as well as in promotion, prevention programs, and early detection. 

Some of the proposed measures are not only effective but also cost-efficient, although they require investment. A good example is the collaboration between the education system and mental health promotion within it.