Mental health among children and adolescents. What works and how can stakeholders intervene?

Issue/problem

Mental health challenges among children and adolescents in Sweden and globally call for concern and action. Schools and child healthcare are key settings for interventions but lack guidance on evidence-based methods. Addressing factors that promote mental health and prevent poor mental health through feasible interventions is key.

Description of the problem

In 2025–2026, the Public Health Agency of Sweden mapped factors affecting children’s mental health and reviewed scientific databases to identify related interventions, to inform a national child health programme. A hearing with selected professionals representing stakeholders working with children and adolescents assessed feasibility of identified interventions, focusing on literature findings, professional experiences and contexts, and future directions.

Results

For maternal and child healthcare, evidence supports universal parental support to strengthen socioemotional competence, reduce violence, and prevent neglect. In preschools, schools, and school healthcare, interventions for socioemotional learning and anti-bullying improve mental wellbeing, resilience, and socioemotional skills while reducing violence and bullying. Most research targets structured, group-based school programs, and evidence in other settings is limited. The hearing highlighted needs in different settings and implementation challenges in Sweden, particularly in schools, without prior testing, adaptation, or national level support.

Lessons

We propose a national knowledge base of interventions to promote mental health, tested and adapted for different settings in the Swedish context. Co-creation between stakeholders is essential. Additionally, the importance of health-promoting learning environments in preschools and schools should be highlighted, as the link between health, learning, and development is strong and bidirectional.

Key messages

• Universal interventions in schools and child healthcare strengthen children’s socioemotional skills and mental health but require national testing and adaptation.

• A national knowledge base of tested, context-adapted interventions is needed to promote children’s and adolescents’ mental health in Sweden.