While physical illnesses account for most of the social and economic burden among adults, Mental Health Problems (MHPs) are the first cause of disability among youths. Point estimates in the past decade suggest that at least 20% of children will have a MHP in any given year, and the rates are as high as 36.7% when considering the risk of having at least one disorder by age 16 years. Preventive measures are less costly and intrusive than curative ones, which explains why prevention of MHPs has been adopted in many societies. There is much left to learn, however, about the development and the aetiology of MHPs, and about the risk and protective factors that could successfully be targeted through preventive interventions.
Cédric Galéra (Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Professor of Universities – Hospital Practitioner (PU-PH) at the University of Bordeaux and Charles Perrens Hospital) is taking the leadership and Christophe Tzourio the co leadership (a trained neurologist, former clinical director of Hôpitaux de Paris, director of the Centre INSERM U1219 Bordeaux Population Health from 2016 to 2021, professor of epidemiology at University of Bordeaux, and a doctor at Bordeaux university hospital) of the team.
