A heavy burden on young minds: the global burden of mental and substance use disorders in children and youth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mental and substance use disorders are common and often persistent, with many emerging in early life. Compared to adult mental and substance use disorders, the global burden attributable to these disorders in children and youth has received relatively little attention.

Method

Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 was used to investigate the burden of mental and substance disorders in children and youth aged 0-24 years. Burden was estimated in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), derived from the sum of years lived with disability (YLDs) and years of life lost (YLLs).

Results

Globally, mental and substance use disorders are the leading cause of disability in children and youth, accounting for a quarter of all YLDs (54.2 million). In t

SUBMITTER: Erskine HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5922255 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature