Editorial Mental Health Policy for Children and Adolescents in Developing Countries

About half of all lifetime mental disorders begin before the age of 14 years1,2. Worldwide prevalence rates for child and adolescent mental disorders are around 10%-20%, with similar types of disorders seen across cultures3-5. Young people have a high rate of self-harm, and suicide is a leading cause of death in young people2. An Indian study reported that suicide accounted for a quarter of deaths in boys and between half and three-quarters of deaths in girls aged 10-19 years6. Poor mental health is strongly related to other health and development concerns in young people notably lower educational achievements, substance abuse, violence, and poor reproductive and sexual health2. The suffering, functional impairment, exposure to stigma and discrimination, and enhanced risk of premature death that is associated with mental disorders in young people has obvious public-health significance. It is obvious that ‘no health is possible without mental health ’ and that mental health issues form an integral part of child development. The effectiveness of some interventions (including promotive and preventive interventions) for mental disorders in this age-group have been established, although more research is urgently needed to improve the range of affordable and feasibl