Increasing data and understanding of adolescent mental health worldwide
UNICEF’s measurement of mental health among adolescents at the population level initiative
Addressing adolescent mental health starts with good data on the prevalence of mental health conditions as well as risk and protective factors. These data are essential for informing the design and implementation of appropriate policies and programs and allocation of resources to support adolescents. Yet, data on adolescent mental health remain sparse, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the global burden of adolescent mental ill health is even more pressing as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To address the global lack of data on adolescent mental health, UNICEF, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other key institutional and academic partners, is leading the development of a suite of tools for Measurement of Mental Health Among Adolescents at the Population Level (MMAP). The principal goal of the MMAP is to enable monitoring of adolescent mental health conditions across countries through a rigorous approach. The MMAP project brings the world one step closer to increased availability of valid and reliable data on adolescent mental health.
