21世纪儿童青少年与青年心理健康研究报告_88页_2mb

Summary of Child, Adolescent and Youth Mental Health in the 21st Century

Core Content

This OECD report provides a comprehensive analysis of the mental health status of children, adolescents, and young people (under 25) in OECD countries, highlighting a long-term decline in youth mental health that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are based on national surveys, international data series, and expert insights from clinicians and policymakers.

Main Findings

Mental Health Decline Across OECD Countries

• Mental health conditions are common among children and adolescents, affecting approximately one in five young people.
• In nine out of 11 OECD countries with comparable time-series data (2012–2022), youth mental health indicators declined by 3% to 16% annually.
• The decline began before the pandemic, with a sharp rise in mental distress observed from 2016–2019.
• While suicide rates among young people have remained relatively stable, self-harm hospitalisations have increased, especially among girls.
• Girls and older adolescents show particularly poor mental health outcomes, with 68% of 15-year-old girls reporting multiple health complaints in 2022 compared to 36% of boys.
• Girls aged 0–17 experienced a 29% increase in self-harm hospitalisations between 2015 and 2023 in 13 countries.

Rising Psychological Distress

• Psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and reports of poor mental health have been on the rise.
• Digital device use, especially late-night or excessive use, is strongly linked to sleep disruption, which is a known risk factor for poor mental health.
• Social media use is associated with anxiety, depressed mood, and poor body image, though it also offers peer support and community engagement.
• Cyberbullying and online bullying have increased, contributing to emotional distress and mental health issues.
• Climate anxiety and geopolitical instability have also emerged as significant stressors, particularly through the information environment.

Key Drivers of Decline

New and Old Risk Factors

• Digitalisation and social media are new drivers, while socio-economic inequality, poverty, and academic pressure are longstanding issues.
• These risk factors intersect and accumulate, creating a complex landscape of mental health challenges for young people.
• Socio-economic disadvantage continues to influence mental health outcomes, both by increasing exposure to risks and reducing access to support.

Interconnected Pressures

• Mental health pressures are not isolated but rather interact across different domains of young people's lives.
• Experts note that cumulative exposure to multiple risk factors leads to persistent pressure and reduced optimism about the future.

Policy Responses and Recommendations

Multi-Sectoral and Preventive Approach

• The report calls for a multi-sectoral and preventive approach, moving beyond specialist mental health services.
• School-based social and emotional learning and mental health literacy are recommended to build resilience.
• Early childhood interventions and youth-friendly, low-threshold support are essential to prevent the onset or escalation of mental health issues.

Digital Policies

• Digital policies such as school phone bans and age-based social media limits are expanding, but their mental health impacts are mixed.
• Some studies suggest improvements in concentration and reduced online risk exposure, while others show limited or no effect.
• These policies must be rigorously evaluated to ensure they are proportionate, effective, and do not inadvertently reduce access to supportive online communities.

Data and Monitoring

• Fewer than one-third of OECD countries collect regular, nationally representative data on youth mental health.
• Improved data collection is critical for tracking trends, assessing policy impacts, and designing effective prevention strategies.
• The report advocates for more granular measures of digital engagement and systematic inclusion of young people's perspectives.

Conclusion

The report underscores the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sectoral action to address the youth mental health crisis. It highlights the importance of prevention, early support, and holistic, accessible services. OECD countries are urged to address upstream determinants such as child poverty and academic pressure, and to improve data collection and policy evaluation to ensure effective and sustainable mental health support for young people.