Best practices to support mental health of children and adolescents in Europe
F Bellotti, S Ponte, M Zanette, L Venuti, E Doz, M LazzeriniAbstract
Background
Recent data indicate a growing prevalence of mental health conditions among children and adolescents in Europe, yet evidence on existing interventions remains fragmented and unevenly documented. We aimed to map practices supporting child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) across 30 European countries, and identify, based on pre-defined criteria, “Best practices” suitable for cross-country up- scaling.
Methods
We conducted a structured mapping of practices integrating multiple data sources/methods: a) institutional databases; b) grey literature reports; c) academic literature; d) a structured online survey administered to Ministries of Health, scientific societies, and other key informants. Eleven evaluation criteria were developed through review of international standards and stakeholder dialogue, and applied systematically to identify best practices.
Results
We identified 338 distinct practices distributed across countries. Most targeted adolescents (79%), followed by children aged 6–9 (39%), while young children (0-5) were less represented (24%). The majority addressed children and adolescents directly (57%) and 15% focused primarily on parents, while practices targeting professionals were notably underrepresented (4%). Education (61%) and health (55%) were the most common delivery sectors, with universal prevention being the predominant intervention level (46%). More than 30 “Best Practices” were identified, some already implemented across multiple countries and with robust evidence of effectiveness.
Conclusions
The identified “Best Practices” represent a concrete and evidence-informed opportunity for cross-country learning and more efficient use of existing resources. Acknowledging possible reporting bias, emerging observed evidence gaps include: practices targeting early childhood, family-based approaches, and targeted prevention. Rebalancing efforts toward promotion and prevention across the life course remains a priority.