03/05/2025
The growing burden of mental ill health is one of the most pressing public health concerns of our time. And it’s becoming increasingly apparent that poor mental health can start early in life.
Over the past 30 years, mental disorders have become increasingly prevalent in young people, particularly in developing economies. A substantial percentage of adolescents in Uganda are affected by mental disorders, with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders all on the rise; su***de is the leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds. Figures are similar across the country, where 20% of adolescents report having unmet mental health care needs. ( Uganda has a high prevalence of mental health conditions compared with other low- and middle-income countries. A Lancet Psychiatry correspondence reported that approximately 14 million people out of a population of 43.7 million, or about 32.0%, were affected by mental illness in 2022.)
Against this backdrop, medical and support services are overloaded, with many young people struggling to access timely, effective, youth-friendly support. The majority of children and adolescents worldwide who experience a mental disorder don’t seek help or receive care.
The root of a growing problem; Of course, there is no single underlying cause for rising poor mental health, with many interlinked factors often at play. Adolescence is a crucial and formative time for developing mental well-being and exposure to risk factors can have a significant impact. Traumatic experiences, socioeconomic disadvantage, systemic inequalities, and healthcare access gaps all have a role to play.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in youth in Uganda
For example, several children with a probable mental disorder had a parent who could not afford to take part in activities outside of school. Poor mental health is also more common in young women than young men.
The COVID pandemic is often cited as having heightened and highlighted many of the issues driving this trend and has undoubtedly left a lasting impact: post-COVID anxiety continues to drive increased absence rates at schools. But it is only part of the story. There are also wider societal, cultural, developmental, and structural changes having an impact.
These include, for example, educational policies that emphasize academic achievement, and longer school hours, which result in more stress and less time to play, Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London, argues.
Alongside this, a more protective and safety-conscious approach to parenting, while well-intentioned, has restricted young people’s ability to build resilience, confidence, and emotional strength, he says.
Mental ill health is becoming more visible, more prevalent, and more misdiagnosed.
Another often-criticized source of stress comes from the rise of social media, which has driven unrealistic expectations of perfectionism and self-comparison. And technology more broadly can drive social isolation, lack of sleep, and reduced physical activity, which are all contributing factors to conditions like depression.
Given the pivotal role youth have in shaping the future and influencing communities and workforces, steps to tackle the negative factors affecting youth well-being were a topic under much discussion during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos earlier this year. Speaking there, Professor of Ethical Leadership, Stern School of Business, New York University, Jonathan Haidt, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, added to the growing voices arguing for smartphone-free schools or, better still, childhoods.
All of these risk factors make turning the tide on the problem a significant challenge, with multifaceted solutions needed.
