Mental health challenges disproportionately affect the most marginalized members of society people living in poverty, women and girls, refugees, young people, and those most at risk of violence and discrimination. While populations in low-and middle-income countries bear 82% of the global burden of mental ill-health, up to 90% of their mental health needs are not met due to a lack of resources and insufficient infrastructure.
The global mental health burden is magnified for youth living in low resource settings. The majority of mental health challenges – 75% – start before the age of 24.5 Poor mental health in youth negatively impacts the development of social connections, cultural belonging, and emotional wellbeing. It can also impact young people’s access to educational opportunities and economic resources. Many of these challenges can be addressed and supported if mental health conditions are identified and treated early. These impacts can be multiplied by working further upstream on prevention initiatives, enabling the mental health field to shift from a reactive to proactive approach.