PAHO/WHO units of Mental Health and Substance Use and Adolescent Health jointly organized a webinar on Adolescent Mental Health with the participation of speakers from the Americas.
Many mental health problems begin in childhood or adolescence, and if left untreated, can persist into older age. Mental health problems - in particular depression - are among the leading causes of the burden of disease in young people. Poor mental health can have important effects on the wider health and development of adolescents and is associated with negative health and social outcomes, such as higher use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit substances, adolescent pregnancy, and school dropout. Adolescents and youth make up a sizable 30% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean; in recent years, the overall adolescent mortality rate in the Region has increased, with suicide being one of the persisting leading causes.
To access recordings, please visit: (English) https://bit.ly/2yhXvTV; (Spanish) https://bit.ly/2z2HkqI.
