About the Forum

On 5-6 October, representatives from 17 Member States and international experts met in Viareggio, Italy, for the WHO/Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Forum 2007, dedicated to "social cohesion for mental well-being among adolescents". The Forum was the second in a series to distil lessons learnt and policy implications of promoting adolescent health through action on the socioeconomic determinants of health. The series specifically aims to gather know-how for:

• reducing health inequities among young people;
• scaling up intersectoral policies and interventions to promote adolescent health;
• translating research on young people's health into policies and action within and beyond the health sector;
• involving young people in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and interventions to promote their health.

In Viareggio, participants reviewed emerging evidence on adolescent mental health status and the latest know-how for the promotion of mental well-being and the prevention of mental disorders among adolescents. Interview rounds with Member State representatives allowed for exchange on policies and interventions. Panel discussions and break-out groups synthesized lessons learnt and policy implications. Links were drawn to the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health (Helsinki, 2005), the WHO European Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health and Development, and the work of partner agencies and intergovernmental bodies.

2007 topic

Risk factors for mental disorders among youth include - but are not limited to - adverse conditions such as poverty, social exclusion, violence, peer rejection, isolation and lack of family support. Protective factors for mental well-being among adolescents include empowerment, positive interpersonal interactions, and social cohesion (e.g. participation, services, and support and community networks).

Evidence shows that mental health promotion can safeguard and improve the mental health of children and adolescents. It can reduce the risk of mental disorders and contribute to social and economic development. Programmes that foster positive parent-child interaction, or home visiting and preschool active-learning for socially disadvantaged children, have led to improved cognitive development, educational achievement and less conduct and criminal problems through to early adulthood. Group-based parent training programmes for families with children with behavioural problems can improve the disruptive behaviour of children and also reduce parental depressive symptoms. Adolescent mental well-being can be reinforced through cognitive and skill-building initiatives that support internal assets such as self esteem, problem-solving skills, pro-social behaviour, and conflict-management skills. Such skill-building programmes are more effective when combined with ecological components that restructure the school environment through a holistic approach. These programmes have proven to improve cognition, emotional knowledge and problem-solving skills and reduce emotional internalizing and externalizing problems.

The WHO/HBSC Forum 2007 aimed to support Member States in strengthening interventions for the promotion of adolescent mental well-being, particularly in relation to the health system's stewardship role for action on the wider determinants of mental health.