Europe’s policymakers are becoming more aware of the youth mental health crisis, yet the efforts to address this issue remain fragmented, slow, and heavily focused on treatment rather than prevention. Mental health issues among young people are a growing concern across Europe, with one in six young individuals affected. Despite this, the necessary action is still lacking. So, what needs to change, and why is progress so slow?
The Youth Mental Health Crisis in Europe
The current state of youth mental health in Europe is alarming. According to recent studies, suicide is the second leading cause of premature death among teenagers. More than 16% of young people face mental health issues, and the situation continues to worsen. The need for immediate and comprehensive intervention is more urgent than ever.
While the recognition of this crisis is not new, the response from policymakers has been slow and reactive. Rather than focusing on proactive measures that could prevent mental health issues before they escalate, Europe’s approach largely revolves around short-term treatment after the problems have already emerged. The result is a crisis that continues to grow unchecked.
A Shift is Necessary
According to a recent white paper from the Z Zurich Foundation titled A Vision for Youth Mental Wellbeing in Europe, the current approach needs to undergo a fundamental shift. This shift would involve moving away from short-term solutions and focusing more on long-term prevention, scaling successful initiatives, and turning intentions into measurable actions.
The report stresses the importance of integrating mental well-being into various policy domains such as education, employment, healthcare, and digital regulation. The paper argues that this broader approach is necessary to address the root causes of mental health problems and provide the systemic support young people need.
EU’s Funding Efforts: Is It Enough?
Despite growing awareness and some progress, efforts by the European Union (EU) remain insufficient. In 2023, the European Commission allocated €1.23 billion to mental health initiatives, including programs focused on youth, such as Healthy Screens, Healthy Youth. However, a significant portion of the funds continues to be directed towards treatment rather than prevention, which is crucial for addressing the crisis in the long term.
One major concern highlighted in the Z Zurich Foundation’s report is that the funding is fragmented and does not reach the areas that need it most. A large proportion of the funds still focus on clinical care rather than on upstream interventions that could prevent youth from reaching crisis points in the first place.
Prevention Is More Cost-Effective
Studies have shown that investing in mental health promotion and prevention pays off significantly. For every €1 spent on these initiatives, there is a return of €24 in the form of reduced educational dropout rates, lower unemployment, and increased productivity. Despite this, prevention efforts remain sporadic and siloed, with limited coordination between various sectors.
Dr. Carmel Cefai, the founding director of Malta’s Centre for Resilience and Socioemotional Health, explains that there are critical moments in young people’s lives when interventions can make a significant difference. By addressing these moments proactively with evidence-based programs, we can safeguard their mental health in the long term.
Overcoming Barriers to Prevention
One of the main barriers to preventing youth mental health issues is the lack of reliable data. Policymakers and funders often struggle to justify the need for preventive spending when they lack concrete metrics to show the effectiveness of these programs. However, tools are being developed to measure impact, such as the “impact personas” created by the Z Zurich Foundation. These tools track changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior, helping to build accountability and demonstrate the value of prevention.
Community-Led Initiatives: A Ray of Hope
While national systems are often slow to respond, grassroots initiatives are making a positive impact across Europe. Programs like Portugal’s “Por Ti,” which delivered mental well-being workshops to over 25,000 students and 2,500 teachers, and Spain’s Henka Initiative, which promotes emotional literacy in schools, are proving to be successful in promoting mental health. These initiatives offer tools and strategies to manage emotions and stress, with many participants reporting lasting improvements.
However, these community-led programs often depend on temporary funding and face difficulties scaling up to reach more young people. Policymakers must ensure that prevention and promotion become a priority in national health and well-being strategies to help these programs thrive.
Training the Key People: Teachers, Coaches, and Parents
The Z Zurich Foundation’s report emphasizes the importance of equipping people who are already close to young individuals—such as teachers, coaches, and parents—with the knowledge and skills to support their mental well-being. Several EU-funded programs, such as the EU-PROMENS initiative, are training professionals in schools and community settings to recognize and address mental health issues.
The success of programs like the Side by Side project in Türkiye, which provided psychosocial support to thousands of educators and healthcare professionals during the pandemic, demonstrates the impact that training key figures can have. By preparing those closest to young people, we can create a network of support that extends beyond psychiatrists and psychologists.
Bridging the Policy Gap
The Z Zurich Foundation’s white paper calls for several concrete actions to close the policy gap in youth mental well-being. First, it recommends integrating mental well-being into all relevant policy areas, including education, employment, healthcare, and digital regulation. This would ensure a coordinated approach to mental health across sectors.
Additionally, the report advocates for a rebalancing of healthcare budgets to meet the recommended target of allocating at least 10% of healthcare spending to mental health, with a significant portion dedicated to prevention and promotion efforts.
Another key recommendation is to simplify the process of accessing funding for community-based organizations, particularly those working with vulnerable youth populations who are most in need of support.
Finally, the report stresses the importance of collecting better data and sharing evidence across sectors to strengthen the evaluation of mental health policies and programs. This would enable more effective, targeted interventions.
The Role of Youth in Shaping Mental Health Initiatives
The white paper also emphasizes the importance of amplifying youth voices. Young people must be involved in the design and delivery of mental health initiatives to ensure that they are relevant, inclusive, and based on real-life experiences. By empowering youth to contribute to the development of mental health solutions, we can create a more sustainable and effective approach.
Time to Act
The vision for youth mental well-being outlined in the Z Zurich Foundation’s report is ambitious, but it is achievable. In the future, Europe could have schools that teach mindfulness as routinely as mathematics, where social media becomes a tool for openness and support, and where mental health is viewed not only as the absence of illness but also as the presence of thriving.
With the right tools, data, and policies in place, Europe can lead the way in improving youth mental well-being. The question remains: will policymakers act in time to turn this vision into reality? The need for action is now, and Europe must rise to the challenge before it is too late.
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