Resolution 2521 (2023)1Provisional version

Mental health and well-being of children and young adults

Parliamentary Assembly

1. The fulfilment of the right to health, as recognised by numerous international and regional instrumentssuch as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the European Social Charter(ETS No. 35), is fundamental for the well-being of every human being. This right also encompasses, as anessential component, the right to mental health: a state of mental well-being which allows the individual torealise their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work and participate in their community.

2. Children and young adults today face a world characterised by multiple crises and much uncertainty.The Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating effect on their mental health and well-being. However, challengesto their mental health and well-being were already present before the pandemic: Today’s young generationhas, in addition, lived through the global financial crisis and its repercussions (including misguided austeritymeasures), a cost-of-living crisis, uncertainties on the job market (inter alia linked to advances in machinelearning and artificial intelligence), and a war in Europe. Moreover, global transformations such as the ever-intensifying climate crisis, the ageing of populations, digitalisation and rising inequalities have createdsignificant uncertainties about the future young people and unborn generations can expect.

3. The imposition of restrictions related to Covid-19 adversely influenced the mental health of manyindividuals. The main victims, however, are reported to have been children, adolescents, and young adults,who were disproportionately affected by the disruption in education, social isolation, economic instability, andgeneral uncertainty about the future. Their well-being and life satisfaction steeply declined during this period,thus putting them at a higher risk of developing mental health problems. Within this group, children and youngpeople from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+, minorities,refugees and undocumented migrants, undoubtedly suffered the most. The surge in mental health problemswhich occurred during the pandemic uncovered long-standing deficiencies in the way that mental healthsystems are organised, managed, and funded at national levels.

4. Against this background, the Parliamentary Assembly believes that States should seize this opportunityto advance with regard to improving mental health and recalls that the right to mental health includes accessto timely and appropriate mental health care and treatment for all. A key step in this regard is to integratemental health into national health systems, especially primary and community-based health services. Thehealthcare provided must be holistic and focus on treating the person as a whole, including addressing mentalhealth, as well as social, economic and environmental factors that can impact a person’s overall well-being,rather than just their physical symptoms. It is critical to raise awareness of these issues from a young age,also in order to “de-dramatise” problems related to mental health. Coercion in mental health must be phasedout.

5. The Assembly welcomes the shift to a human rights-based approach to mental health and therecognition that there is “no health without mental health”. It applauds recent efforts by the World HealthOrganization, the United Nations and other influential global actors in recognising mental health as an integral

1. Assembly debate on 13 October 2023 (24th sitting) (see Doc. 15829, report of the Committee on Social Affairs,Health and Sustainable Development, rapporteur: Mr Simon Moutquin). Text adopted by the Assembly on 13 October2023 (24th sitting).

See also Recommendation 2263 (2023).

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