C‘And a shadow that lengthens over the future of many Italian teenagersa discomfort that often finds no words but which the numbers describe with disarming clarity. Almost one boy in seven, in that delicate age group between 10 and 19, lives with the symptoms of a mental disorder. This means that, if you do the math, there are around one million young people looking for help with their mental health. A number that remains suspended between late diagnoses, insufficient services and the shame that still surrounds mental healthespecially when it concerns such young boys and girls.
Mental health of young people: it is increasingly an emergency
A million young people, therefore, face every day invisible battles against anxiety, depression or disorders which have their roots in the development of their nervous system. The picture, which emerged during the recent SINPIA-SINPF Joint Congress, which brought together top experts in neuropsychiatry and pharmacology in Cagliari, tells of a generation that is still paying the price of isolation And of the uncertainties of recent years.
The legacy of the pandemic on psychological well-being
Despite a slight improvement recorded in 2024, the psychological well-being of our children has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levelsmarking a deep furrow in the social fabric of the country. Data shows that mental distress now accounts for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group. And, when we talk about mental health in developmental age, the focus inevitably shifts to neurodevelopmental disorders. Among these, the best known and most widespread are autism spectrum disorder and ADHDan acronym that stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorderor attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Behind the numbers of a silent emergency that affects almost a million adolescents, lies the importance of a timely diagnosis. (Getty Images)
The spread of autism and ADHD in Italy
In Italy, autism affects approximately 13 children in every thousand between the ages of 7 and 9with a prevalence that affects males more. But it is ADHD that presents the largest numbers: affects 6% of very young people. Those who suffer from this condition are not simply “lively” or “distracted”; manifest a real biological difficulty in regulating attention And in controlling impulsivityfactors that can compromise academic performance, the ability to make friends and, later, job stability.
The discovery of JAMA psychiatry: treat today to protect tomorrow
One of the most relevant pieces of news discussed by specialists concerns research published in the prestigious international journal JAMA Psychiatry. The study, conducted on a vast audience of approximately 700 thousand young peoplehas shed new light on the importance of pharmacological prevention. The researchers found that treat ADHD promptly with standard therapiessuch as methylphenidate, the drug of choice for this condition, before the age of 13 can drastically reduce the risk of developing serious psychosis in adulthood. We are talking about protection ranging from 21% to 24%.
Because acting now changes the fate of children
In practice, intervening when the brain is still in a phase of strong growth and change allows us to stabilize psychic pathways which, if neglected, they could degenerate into much more serious pathologies once they grow up. Three or four years of constant care in childhood seems to act as a shield, offering kids a chance at a more balanced life which would not be achieved by starting the same treatments as adults.
Continuity of care as a bridge to the future
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a critical moment, but unfortunately it is often the children who are followed from child neuropsychiatry services find themselves “lost” when they turn 18due to a bureaucracy that clearly separates the care of minors from that of adults. Experts underline how fundamental it is ensure continuity of care. A disorder does not magically disappear with age. On the contrary, if not managed well, it can lead to complications such as substance abuse or severe forms of depression. The ideal approach must be tailored to the patientintegrating pharmacological support with psychotherapy, to help young people find their place in the world, at school and at work.
The barriers that hinder access to treatments
Despite the scientific evidence, however, the path for Italian families unfortunately remains uphill. There are still too many bureaucratic and organizational obstacles which make access to necessary medicines difficult. Currently, the prescription of some therapies is limited to a few reference centerscreating long waiting lists and disparities between different regions. Scientific societies, such as the Italian Society of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry and that of Neuropsychopharmacology, they are clamoring for a streamlining of procedures. There is only one objective: to transform these scientific discoveries into a daily reality for families, so that an early diagnosis does not remain just a sheet of paper.