Adopted by the European Commission on 17 September 2026, the proposal sets a harmonised EU framework for children's online safety built on four pillars: delayed access to social media, safety by design, age assurance and parental responsibility, and strong enforcement. It would prohibit social media accounts under 13, allow parent-supervised accounts at 13–14 and independent accounts from 15, and require services such as social media, video platforms, online games, AI chatbots and app stores to avoid design features that drive excessive use. It is still a proposal and must be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council.

Conducted for the European Commission (DG SANTE) in spring 2026, the survey gathered responses from over 26,000 adolescents aged 13–18 and more than 12,700 parents across all 27 Member States. It provides comparable data on the prevalence, intensity and contexts of screen and social media use, and shows a consistent association between screen time and reported symptoms such as sleep problems, fatigue, concentration difficulties, stress and anxiety, with earlier social media use linked to heavier screen time. The findings describe statistical associations based on self-reported data rather than causal effects.

Founded in Finland in 1996, Icehearts forms teams of around 20 children identified early (around age 6) by pre-school, school and social services as needing special support. A full-time mentor stays with the same team for 12 years, until around age 18, using team sport as the entry point while supporting children at school, during leisure time, individually and through their families, in collaboration with other services. It is rooted in a salutogenic, rights-based approach, and is being piloted in other European countries through the Icehearts Europe project.

Outlines key principles and standards for designing and delivering effective mental health services for children and young people. It focuses on service organisation, accessibility, quality of care, and integration across sectors, helping countries strengthen systems to better meet the needs of young populations.

Evidence-based recommendations on interventions that promote mental well-being and prevent mental health conditions among adolescents. Drawing on systematic reviews, the resource outlines effective approaches across settings—such as schools, families, and communities—supporting countries in implementing interventions that are both impactful and appropriate to adolescents’ developmental needs.

An international initiative launched in 2018 to improve the consistency and quality of data on adolescent health and well-being worldwide, addressing longstanding gaps in how the needs of young people aged 10–19 are understood and monitored. Developed in collaboration with key UN partners, it establishes a standardized framework of indicators across multiple domains, including health outcomes, behaviours, and social determinants. Its relevance to child and adolescent mental health lies in its holistic approach, which embeds mental health within broader measures of well-being rather than treating it in isolation. By incorporating indicators related to emotional well-being, risk exposure, and environmental influences, GAMA enables more reliable tracking of mental health needs and highlights the complex factors shaping outcomes during adolescence—a critical developmental period when many mental health conditions first emerge. This integrated, data-driven approach supports more effective policy, prevention, and service planning, ultimately strengthening global efforts to promote mental health and well-being among children and adolescents

A structured approach to assessing needs, services, and system capacity across sectors. It supports a comprehensive understanding of how determinants, service provision, and coordination mechanisms interact, enabling the identification of gaps and priority areas for action. While originally developed for diverse country contexts, the approach is adaptable to European settings and can strengthen evidence-informed policy development by supporting systematic analysis of child and adolescent mental health systems and their underlying drivers.

This report presents cross-national data on adolescent health and well-being, highlighting trends in mental health, life satisfaction, and social environments across Europe, Central Asia, and Canada. It emphasises growing concerns around psychological distress and inequalities, providing a strong evidence base to inform policies and interventions that support young people’s mental health.

This report presents cross-national data on adolescent health and well-being, highlighting trends in mental health, life satisfaction, and social environments across Europe, Central Asia, and Canada. It emphasises growing concerns around psychological distress and inequalities, providing a strong evidence base to inform policies and interventions that support young people’s mental health.

An international initiative launched in 2018 to improve the consistency and quality of data on adolescent health and well-being worldwide, addressing longstanding gaps in how the needs of young people aged 10–19 are understood and monitored. Developed in collaboration with key UN partners, it establishes a standardized framework of indicators across multiple domains, including health outcomes, behaviours, and social determinants. Its relevance to child and adolescent mental health lies in its holistic approach, which embeds mental health within broader measures of well-being rather than treating it in isolation. By incorporating indicators related to emotional well-being, risk exposure, and environmental influences, GAMA enables more reliable tracking of mental health needs and highlights the complex factors shaping outcomes during adolescence—a critical developmental period when many mental health conditions first emerge. This integrated, data-driven approach supports more effective policy, prevention, and service planning, ultimately strengthening global efforts to promote mental health and well-being among children and adolescents