Mental health disorders rising Among youth in Armenia, report finds

Mental health disorders among children and adolescents in Armenia are increasing, reflecting a broader global trend and posing a growing public health challenge, according to recent national data and international research.

Experts at the Yerevan State Medical University’s Heratsi Research Center say 50% to 75% of mental disorders begin in childhood or adolescence. The average age of onset is 14.5 years, and nearly half of cases emerge before age 18. Among 10- to 19-year-olds, mental disorders account for 15% of the total disease burden.

The consequences extend beyond health, affecting academic performance, social adaptation and future employment prospects. Adolescents with mental health conditions often face social isolation, stigma, discrimination and increased risk of unsafe behaviors and rights violations.

According to the World Health Organization, one in seven adolescents worldwide, about 14.3%, lives with a mental disorder, many of whom remain undiagnosed and untreated. Even in high-income countries, only 44.2% of children with mental disorders receive specialized care.

A large-scale 2019 analysis of people ages 5 to 24 found a global prevalence rate of 11.6%, equivalent to about 293 million cases. Regional differences are significant: prevalence was estimated at 14.5% in Asia and 9.9% in Africa, compared with 30.6% in North and South America and 30.4% in Europe.

Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common conditions among adolescents. Anxiety affects 4.1% of 10- to 14-year-olds and 5.3% of those aged 15 to 19. Depression affects 1.3% and 3.4% of those age groups, respectively. Suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29 globally.

Behavioral disorders are more common in younger adolescents. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder affects 2.7% of 10- to 14-year-olds and 2.2% of 15- to 19-year-olds. Conduct disorders affect 3.3% and 1.8%, respectively.

Eating disorders are less prevalent but disproportionately affect girls, while psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia typically emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood, affecting about 0.1% of 15- to 19-year-olds. Substance use disorders affect 1.3% of adolescents, and alcohol-related disorders affect 1.2%.

More than a quarter, 26.5% of children and adolescents with a mental disorder have two or more co-occurring conditions, complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Mental health outcomes in adolescence are shaped by biological, psychological and social factors. Key risks include exposure to crisis events, prolonged psychological distress, adverse family environments, bullying, violence, including sexual violence, social isolation and economic hardship.

Youth with chronic physical illnesses, autism spectrum disorders or neurological conditions face elevated risk due to additional psychosocial stressors and adaptation challenges.

Armenia’s 2023 national health system performance report indicates a steady rise in youth mental health problems, with many cases remaining undiagnosed and untreated.

According to the 2025 yearbook of the National Institute of Health, primary incidence rates among children aged 0 to 14 rose from 17.6 per 100,000 in 2015 to 56.9 in 2024, a more than threefold increase. Among adolescents aged 15 to 17, the rate nearly doubled, from 72.0 to 140.2 per 100,000 during the same period.

In 2023, mental and behavioral disorders accounted for 33.4% of childhood disability cases, up from 25% in 2018, making them the leading cause.

In 2024, the most frequently recorded conditions among children aged 0 to 14 were intellectual disabilities, followed by developmental disorders and emotional and behavioral disorders. Similar patterns were observed in the 5-17 age group.

Data from the 2017–2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey, conducted in Armenia with WHO support, found that while about 90% of adolescents reported general life satisfaction, emotional distress was common. Half of 15-year-old girls and 36% of boys reported weekly emotional difficulties. Forty-one percent of girls and 22% of boys reported feelings of hopelessness, nearly 20% reported depressive symptoms and up to 8% reported suicidal thoughts.

Between 2020 and 2022, reported cases of self-harm among adolescents doubled from five to 10. During the same period, 18 suicides were recorded among those under 18, the majority involving boys. Suicide attempts were more frequently reported among girls.

Experts say the steady rise in childhood and adolescent mental disorders requires a coordinated, cross-sectoral response involving health care, education and social protection systems.

Without comprehensive, long-term interventions, specialists warn the growing burden of mental illness could undermine the well-being and human capital of Armenia’s next generation.