The objective of this research is to assess the prevalence of mental health disorders (depression and/or anxiety) among adolescents (14-19 year-olds) in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Overall, 2038 participants entered the questionnaire during the 2 months of data collection. Overall, participants had a mean age of 16.52 years, with almost the same percentage of males and females. In 33 cases (2.8%) participants defined their gender as other. Mental health problems affect around one third of 14-19 year-olds in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Although the current pandemic has most probably played a role in it, this prevalence rate is much higher (or at least in the upper range) compared to other studies performed in similar populations, both in Switzerland and elsewhere. It is however quite disturbing that, in spite of the high reported prevalence, those consulting a mental health provider continue to be a minority, with less than half of those screened as depressed and/or anxious having consulted a mental health professional in the year previous to the survey.
Moreover, turning to nobody when emotionally unstable shows a high prevalence among them. Although the stigmatization often associated with mental health care can explain part of these results, it cannot be excluded that these are young people who do not receive treatment because they are not detected.