This article by a commission of experts provides a detailed review of the challenges and solutions to what they name the “global mental health crisis in young people.” It incorporates information from various geographical sources and diverse information channels. The article emphasizes the priority that should be given to addressing mental health issues in adolescents, as they are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in this age group. Due to their early onset and chronic nature, these issues represent one of the greatest disease burdens, linked to enormous economic costs and lost opportunities.

The article discusses factors that have contributed to the increased prevalence of this problem globally in recent years (referred to as “megatrends”), citing destabilizing social, economic, and political factors, such as precarious housing and employment, increasing intergenerational inequities, and factors related to climate change. It also highlights the impact of unregulated technologies, such as social media and artificial intelligence.

As solutions, the article recommends unifying the clinical follow-up of adolescents into adulthood, strengthening preventive approaches in primary care, using digital tools to enhance access and retention in services, and involving young people in decision-making processes.

The commission recommends a series of policy actions, including economic arguments, evidence-based prevention strategies, and practical examples. It also underscores the importance of sharing personal experiences to mobilize the mental health community, with support from public figures, media, and grassroots organizations.

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. 

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.