Mental health status of adolescents in South-East Asia: evidence for action

Overview

Adolescents constitute an important social and demographic group in the WHO South-East Asia Region, accounting for almost one fifth of the total population of the Region. The failure to recognize and address mental health problems in children and adolescents is a serious public health problem in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.4 and 3.5). Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or other conditions may lead to behavioural problems such as tobacco, alcohol and drug use. The multi-directional linkages between mental health conditions and other health, educational, social and development problems call for evidence for action in this area. This publication, is a step towards building an evidence base to facilitate informed policy and programmatic actions by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.