Childhood and adolescence are important times for building health habits. Early life is when many mental health issues first appear, making it a priority period for promoting good mental health and preventing mental-ill health.
In 2022, over 40% of 11‑year‑old girls and 30% of 11‑year‑old boys experienced multiple health complaints such as feeling low or irritable, experiencing head-, stomach- or backaches, or having difficulties with getting to sleep (Figure 3.17). The rate of multiple health complaints increases over time. Between 2018 and 2022, the average rate of multiple health complaints increased from 30% to 36% for 11‑year‑olds, and from 42% to 52% for 15‑year‑olds. For girls the increase was bigger, with an increase from 33% in 2018 to 42% in 2022 for 11‑year‑olds and an increase from 53% to 68% for 15‑year‑olds. The gender difference in rates of multiple health complaints also increases with age: 68% of 15‑year‑old girls reported multiple health complaints, compared to only 37% of 15‑year‑old boys. The most common health complaints for both genders are those frequently associated with psychological distress (nervousness, irritability and difficulties in getting to sleep).
Mental well-being is lower amongst older children in all EU countries (Figure 3.18). Mental well-being was better amongst 11‑year‑olds (score of 66 on average) than 15‑year‑olds (score of 54 on average), and was higher amongst boys than girls. The lowest levels of well-being in the EU were amongst 15‑year‑old girls in Slovenia, Poland and Italy (score of 40 for all three).
Many factors can explain declining mental well-being, and increasing health complaints, by age. These include declining physical activity in older age groups, especially for girls, potentially lower social interactions, higher rate of problematic internet and social media use, and exposure to cyberbullying, which has increased significantly in recent years (OECD, 2024[1]). In addition, the average age of onset for many mental disorders is in early adolescence, around 14 years of age. Socio-economic factors also have an impact, with adolescents from more affluent families reporting higher levels of mental well-being than those from less affluent families (Cosma et al., 2023[2]).
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, young people’s mental health deteriorated markedly and became a priority for many governments (OECD/European Union, 2022[3]). Some strategies encompassing health, education and welfare policies were in place before 2020, but disruptions caused by the pandemic drove governments to introduce or expand efforts to support youth and offer targeted mental health support. For example, from April 2021, France introduced “mon soutien psy”, which gave all minors access to reimbursed consultations with a psychologist (OECD, 2021[4]). This scheme has since been expanded to cover the whole population. In Spain, under the Mental Health Action Plan and Suicide Prevention Plan 2022‑24, specific initiatives target children and adolescents. Attention is also being paid to limiting exposure to potential mental health risks, notably harms related to digital media. The EU’s Digital Services Act was introduced in 2022 and seeks to ensure that digital platforms have taken appropriate steps to ensure the privacy, safety and security of minors (European Commission, 2023[5]).
