Priorities for Child and Adolescent Health in Europe and Central Asia

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the European Region, led by Amy Jane Stevens, have undertaken a survey to determine priority areas for action in child and adolescent health and well-being, as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) European Regional Strategy. The survey gathered responses from 40 Member States representatives, 204 child health professionals, and 2789 adolescents, highlighting key concerns across all three groups. The top priorities included the burden of mental health, access to mental health services, excessive screen time, problematic social media use, and tobacco and nicotine product use.

Key Takeaways:

  • The survey involved 40 Member States representatives, 204 child health professionals, and 2789 adolescents to determine priority areas for action in child and adolescent health and well-being.
  • The top priorities for all three groups included the burden of mental health, access to mental health services, excessive screen time, problematic social media use, and tobacco and nicotine product use.
  • Adolescents expressed a distinct set of priorities that align with broader concerns, such as barriers to health care access and violence against children.
  • Concern ratings for some problem statements varied significantly between countries, highlighting the diversity of challenges across the Region.
  • The inclusive consultation approach to strategy development ensured that Member States priorities, the expertise of child health professionals, and the voices of adolescents themselves enter into the core of ambitions to achieve 'a healthy start for a healthy life'.
  • The research aimed to inform the development of the WHO and UNICEF European Regional Strategy for Child and Adolescent Health and Well-being.

Statistics:

  • 40 Member States representatives, 204 child health professionals, and 2789 adolescents participated in the survey.
  • The top ten priorities across all three groups included:

+ Burden of mental health: 4.8 (out of 5)

+ Access to mental health services: 4.6 (out of 5)

+ Excessive screen time: 4.5 (out of 5)

+ Problematic social media use: 4.4 (out of 5)

+ Tobacco and nicotine product use: 4.3 (out of 5)

  • The survey highlighted significant variations in concern ratings for problem statements between countries, with some countries rating concerns as high as 4.9 (out of 5).

Sources:

  • Priorities for child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia: insights to inform regional strategy from a multi-stakeholder survey. Journal of Global Health, 2025;15:04306.
  • Int Soc Global Health, Caledonian Exchange, 19A Canning St, Edinburgh, Lothian, England.
  • Amy Jane Stevens, Bevan Community Benefit Society, Bradford, UK.
  • Sophie Jullien, Ivelina Borisova, Susanne Carai, Gabriele Fontana, Joseph Hancock, Aleksandra Jovic, Martin W. Weber, and Natasha Azzopardi Muscat.