Youth Mental Health, Particularly in Asian Populations

Mental Health in young people between 12 to 30 has been an area of global concern. While there appears to signals for an increase in mental distress for young people internationally. In particularly, the increase in distress amongst young people in Asia from a previously relatively low level calls for attention. As 75% of adult mental condition was estimated to onset before the age of 25, screening and early detection of mental health distress in young people is strategically important. Engagement of young people with assessment and intervention is particularly challenging and specialised youth engagement platforms may have to be established. Evaluation for early detection and intervention platforms for youth mental health is challenging because of its open and flexible nature. There is a need to develop innovative approaches in service design and evaluation.

This Research Topic focuses on Youth Mental Health in the Asia Pacific region. It will be concerned with mental health issues, their causes and impacts, as well as interventions and service innovation serving young people aged 12 to 30, with mental health challenges across a range of symptoms. The objectives of this Topic are:

- To estimate the prevalence of mental health conditions and their associated features in the Asia Pacific region, paying special attention to cultural factors
- To identify predictive and associated risk factors for different symptom dimensions in youth mental health
- To describe screening and service systems purposed to engage young people
- To study biomedical, psychosocial and integrated interventions for various psychiatric conditions in young people
- To study outcomes and factors affecting outcomes for mental health conditions presenting in young people
- To study clinical, biological, psychological markers related to mental health conditions
- To describe and review screening and intervention systems for youth mental health in the Asia Pacific region

We welcome the submissions relate to youth mental health issues:
Epidemiological studies, associated and predictive risk and protective factors. Predictors and markers for the onset mental health conditions. Clinical presentation, detection and screening systems, Biomedical and psychosocial treatment. Short-term and long-term outcome of treated and untreated population, efficacy studies of interventions targeting youth. Cultural issues related to the onset and outcome of mental health conditions, service provision, intervention and rehabilitation. Interaction with life-style, family function, socialisation, and smartphone use. Empirical studies and review studies are welcomed.