Child and adolescent mental health burden, policies, and services in high-income countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region

This study examined recent trends in the burden of mental disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide among children and adolescents, and reviewed child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policies and services in eight high-income jurisdictions (Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) in the Western Pacific Region. Data on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of mental and substance use disorders and suicide were extracted from global and national datasets. A narrative review on CAMH policies and services was conducted using English and local language sources. Mental and substance use disorders accounted for 14.9%–24.2% of total DALYs among individuals under 20 years, with suicide rates of 10–19-year-olds increasing in several jurisdictions since the early 2010s. While all jurisdictions had mental health laws addressing minors and legislated protections against harms, only Australia had a stand-alone CAMH policy, and large gaps in workforce and service data remained. Strengthening suicide prevention efforts, improving CAMH data systems, enhancing CAMH-focused legislation, and learning from best practices on youth engagement and cross-sector collaboration are recommended to advance CAMH systems in the region.