New Study Published in The Lancet Global Health Reveals Significant Data Gaps About Mental Health Conditions of Children Around the World

Having timely, representative, and high-quality data on mental health is essential to improve access to services, especially for children in low- and middle-income countries, say researchers from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute United for Global Mental Health, and the Global Mental Health Action Network.

New York, NY — A landmark new study led by investigators from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute, United for Global Mental Health, and the Global Mental Health Action Network, highlights critical data gaps in mental health conditions, particularly for children in low- and middle-income countries, with the largest gaps documented in the Western Pacific and Africa.

The study will be published on April 24, 2025, in The Lancet Global Health with the title “Data Gaps in Prevalence Rates of Mental Health Conditions Around the World: A Retrospective Analysis of Nationally Representative Data.” It aims to quantify and analyze the distribution of the available nationally representative prevalence data for mental health conditions.

Reflecting on the study’s significance, Giovanni Salum, MD, PhD, the senior vice president of Global Programs at the Child Mind Institute and senior author of the study, emphasized its implications for global youth mental health advancement and advocacy.

“Through this collaboration, we’ve gathered evidence that marks a pivotal moment in our understanding of global mental health data gaps while providing a foundation for change through coordinated efforts. As we continue to lead critical discussions on global youth mental health — and ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, where accelerating action to improve mental health will be a top priority — our findings provide a clear road map to strengthen systems and inform policy,” said Dr. Salum. “By combining open science frameworks with enhanced data collection and cross-sector partnerships, we can reduce the knowledge gap.”

Despite increased interest in and availability of data for mental health overall since 2000, the growth in scientific research was found to be the lowest on the topic of children’s mental health. Furthermore, most of the available datasets were collected prior to 2010 and may not reflect current challenges and needs. This also points to a stark reality: Low and middle-income countries are the hardest hit in terms of data gaps, creating an urgent need for solutions — a challenge this paper directly addresses.

Improving data collection and research, while advocating for targeted policy action, is essential in bridging the data gap, which can perpetuate stigma and hamper sustainable transformation.

Antonis Kousoulis, MD, director of partnerships at United for Global Mental Health and the Global Mental Health Action Network lead, reiterated the need for strengthened systems.

“We are excited to support this new research and policy brief. In a year when the global mental health sector is working hard to influence the United Nations High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases and mental health, it is concerning that our research in partnership with the Child Mind Institute highlights extensive global data gaps, an absence of up-to-date mental health datasets, and a scarcity of credible indicators. Having timely, representative, and high-quality data on mental health is essential to provide an evidence base for decision-making, drive policy change, ensure accountability, and make the case for increased investment and improved access to services,” said Dr. Kousoulis.

Currently, more than 80 percent of countries and territories worldwide have no recent data on the prevalence of mental health conditions. There are no nationally representative data sources for children in Africa. And while child mental health was most covered in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and in the European Region, it was still insufficient, with only 23 percent and 21 percent, respectively, of their countries having at least one data source.

Mental health conditions are among the leading contributors to disability and illness globally, negatively affecting quality of life and academic and professional performance. This study therefore underscores the vital role of global partnerships in improving data collection on healthcare, social, economic, and environmental factors, to help identify underlying causes and culturally relevant preventative measures.

Good data are critical for policy makers. Analyzing the true extent of these problems is essential to guide resource allocation, advocacy, monitoring mental health trends, and ultimately improving population health.

This work is conducted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center at the Child Mind Institute with founding support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of its Global Health Initiative (GHI).

About the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute

The SNF Global Center brings together the Child Mind Institute’s expertise as a leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s (SNF) deep commitment to supporting collaborative projects to improve access to quality health care worldwide. The center is building partnerships to drive advances in under-researched areas of children’s and adolescents’ mental health and expand access to culturally appropriate trainings, resources, and treatment in low- and middle-income countries. This work is conducted by the Child Mind Institute with support from SNF through its Global Health Initiative (GHI).

About the Child Mind Institute

We are the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing open science initiatives and tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.

About United for Global Mental Health

United for Global Mental Health is an advocacy organisation working with partners across the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma and increase support for mental health across the world. Our vision is for a world where mental health support is accessible to everyone, everywhere without stigma or discrimination. UnitedGMH’s work on this is supported by Flourishing Minds and the Wellcome Trust, and by its role in the Being Initiative.

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