Critical life course interventions for children and adolescents to promote mental health.

Journal: Global mental health (Cambridge, England)

Volume: 10

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Institute for Life Course Health Research, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, Data and Analytics Section, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA. Programme Group, Health Section, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA. Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal. Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. citiesRISE, New York, NY, USA.

Abstract summary 

Childhood and adolescence are key developmental periods in the life course for addressing mental health, and there is ample evidence to support significant, increased investment in mental health promotion for this group. However, there are gaps in evidence to inform how best to implement mental health promotion interventions at scale. In this review, we examined psychosocial interventions implemented with children (aged 5–10 years) and adolescents (aged 10–19 years), drawing on evidence from WHO guidelines. Most psychosocial interventions promoting mental health have been implemented in school settings, with some in family and community settings, by a range of delivery personnel. Mental health promotion interventions for younger ages have prioritised key social and emotional skills development, including self-regulation and coping; for older ages, additional skills include problem-solving and interpersonal skills. Overall, fewer interventions have been implemented in low- and middle-income countries. We identify cross-cutting areas affecting child and adolescent mental health promotion: understanding the problem scope; understanding which components work; understanding how and for whom interventions work in practice; and ensuring supportive infrastructure and political will. Additional evidence, including from participatory approaches, is required to tailor mental health promotive interventions to diverse groups’ needs and support healthy life course trajectories for children and adolescents everywhere.

Authors & Co-authors:  Laurenzi Christina A CA Mamutse Sihle S Marlow Marguerite M Mawoyo Tatenda T Stansert Katzen Linnea L Carvajal-Velez Liliana L Lai Joanna J Luitel Nagendra N Servili Chiara C Sinha Moitreyee M Skeen Sarah S

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Almeida M, Challa M, Ribeiro M, Harrison AM and Castro MC (2022) Editorial perspective: The mental health impact of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 63(5), 608–612.
Authors :  11
Identifiers
Doi : e4
SSN : 2054-4251
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
child development;child mental health;global mental health;mental well-being
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
England