Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys
Abstract Background There are limited prevalence data available for mental disorders in adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys (NAMHS) measured the prevalence of six common mental disorders, along with self-harm and suicidal beha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00920-6 |
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| author | James G. Scott Holly E. Erskine Shoshanna L. Fine Nguyen Duc Vinh Siswanto Agus Wilopo Caroline W. Kabiru Robert Wm. Blum |
| author_facet | James G. Scott Holly E. Erskine Shoshanna L. Fine Nguyen Duc Vinh Siswanto Agus Wilopo Caroline W. Kabiru Robert Wm. Blum |
| author_sort | James G. Scott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There are limited prevalence data available for mental disorders in adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys (NAMHS) measured the prevalence of six common mental disorders, along with self-harm and suicidal behaviours, associated risk and protective factors, and service use in adolescents aged 10–17 years in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The challenges and opportunities arising from large scale epidemiological mental health research in low resource settings are discussed. Measurement of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries Diagnostic criteria for mental disorders are largely informed by evidence and experiences from high-income countries. NAMHS reports a low prevalence of adolescent mental disorders in Indonesia and Vietnam, suggesting there is much that the Global North can learn from the Global South in relation to population mental health. Improving population mental health requires a public health approach which focuses on promotion of wellbeing, increased community cohesion, and prevention of exposure to risk factors in early life. Conclusion NAMHS significantly advances knowledge of adolescent mental health in LMICs. These data provide a baseline from which future trends of mental health in these countries can be compared. This will be increasingly important as the world faces ongoing challenges, such as conflict and climate change, which will inevitably affect global mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e5c32c71b8a4ad3bb49ce07f778e924 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e5c32c71b8a4ad3bb49ce07f778e9242025-08-20T03:45:45ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002025-07-0119S11510.1186/s13034-025-00920-6Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health SurveysJames G. Scott0Holly E. Erskine1Shoshanna L. Fine2Nguyen Duc Vinh3Siswanto Agus Wilopo4Caroline W. Kabiru5Robert Wm. Blum6Child Health Research Centre, The University of QueenslandQueensland Centre for Mental Health ResearchDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityInstitute of Sociology, Vietnam Academy of Social SciencesCenter for Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah MadaAfrican Population and Health Research CenterDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityAbstract Background There are limited prevalence data available for mental disorders in adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys (NAMHS) measured the prevalence of six common mental disorders, along with self-harm and suicidal behaviours, associated risk and protective factors, and service use in adolescents aged 10–17 years in Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The challenges and opportunities arising from large scale epidemiological mental health research in low resource settings are discussed. Measurement of mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries Diagnostic criteria for mental disorders are largely informed by evidence and experiences from high-income countries. NAMHS reports a low prevalence of adolescent mental disorders in Indonesia and Vietnam, suggesting there is much that the Global North can learn from the Global South in relation to population mental health. Improving population mental health requires a public health approach which focuses on promotion of wellbeing, increased community cohesion, and prevention of exposure to risk factors in early life. Conclusion NAMHS significantly advances knowledge of adolescent mental health in LMICs. These data provide a baseline from which future trends of mental health in these countries can be compared. This will be increasingly important as the world faces ongoing challenges, such as conflict and climate change, which will inevitably affect global mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00920-6Psychiatric epidemiologyMental disordersPrevalenceRisk factorsMeasurementStigma |
| spellingShingle | James G. Scott Holly E. Erskine Shoshanna L. Fine Nguyen Duc Vinh Siswanto Agus Wilopo Caroline W. Kabiru Robert Wm. Blum Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Psychiatric epidemiology Mental disorders Prevalence Risk factors Measurement Stigma |
| title | Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys |
| title_full | Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys |
| title_fullStr | Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys |
| title_short | Increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low- and middle-income countries: The National Adolescent Mental Health Surveys |
| title_sort | increasing knowledge on adolescent mental health in low and middle income countries the national adolescent mental health surveys |
| topic | Psychiatric epidemiology Mental disorders Prevalence Risk factors Measurement Stigma |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00920-6 |
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