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Review
. 2020 Mar 24:14:23.
doi: 10.1186/s13033-020-00356-9. eCollection 2020.

Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care?

Marco Colizzi  1   2 , Antonio Lasalvia  1 , Mirella Ruggeri  1
Affiliations
Review

Prevention and early intervention in youth mental health: is it time for a multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic model for care?

Marco Colizzi et al. Int J Ment Health Syst. .

Abstract

Background: Similar to other health care sectors, mental health has moved towards the secondary prevention, with the effort to detect and treat mental disorders as early as possible. However, converging evidence sheds new light on the potential of primary preventive and promotion strategies for mental health of young people. We aimed to reappraise such evidence.

Methods: We reviewed the current state of knowledge on delivering promotion and preventive interventions addressing youth mental health.

Results: Half of all mental disorders start by 14 years and are usually preceded by non-specific psychosocial disturbances potentially evolving in any major mental disorder and accounting for 45% of the global burden of disease across the 0-25 age span. While some action has been taken to promote the implementation of services dedicated to young people, mental health needs during this critical period are still largely unmet. This urges redesigning preventive strategies in a youth-focused multidisciplinary and trans-diagnostic framework which might early modify possible psychopathological trajectories.

Conclusions: Evidence suggests that it would be unrealistic to consider promotion and prevention in mental health responsibility of mental health professionals alone. Integrated and multidisciplinary services are needed to increase the range of possible interventions and limit the risk of poor long-term outcome, with also potential benefits in terms of healthcare system costs. However, mental health professionals have the scientific, ethical, and moral responsibility to indicate the direction to all social, political, and other health care bodies involved in the process of meeting mental health needs during youth years.

Keywords: Early intervention; Multidisciplinary care; Prevention; Promotion; Trans-diagnostic model; Youth mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A trans-diagnostic clinical staging model to intercept a wider clinical high-risk mental state population
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Summary of risk factors and pluripotent pathological trajectory for mental disorders
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Vertical and horizontal integration of the enhanced model of primary care for mental health
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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