Innocenti Research Report MIND THE GAP: Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions – An evidence and gap map of low and middle-income countries Published: 2022 Innocenti Research Report Mental disorders affect about 1 in 7 children and adolescents worldwide, with 50% arising before the age of 14. Despite the high burden and early onset, most conditions remain unrecognized and untreated. We mapped evidence on the effectiveness of child and adolescent (ages 0-19) mental health and psychosocial support interventions in low- and middle-income countries within the last 12 years and identified 697 records from 78 countries. The field is reactive rather than proactive, with most interventions focusing on treatment rather than promotion or prevention. Most mental health research is conducted in educational settings and focuses on early and late adolescence. Research on early childhood interventions as well as evidence to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of children in humanitarian settings are scarce. Mental health intervention research lacks diversity: less than one third of studies and reviews focused on specific population groups. Despite the known potential for digital interventions to overcome a range of barriers, the field is understudied with very limited evidence across all outcomes. In 60 countries, no research was identified. There were also important geographical disparities and research gaps in West and Central Africa. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 58 | Thematic area: Mental Health | Tags: adolescent health, adolescent psychology, adolescent well-being, adolescents, child mental health, data analysis, data collection, low-income countries, mental health, mental health services, middle-income countries × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION 2022 MIND THE GAP: Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions – An evidence and gap map of low and middle-income countries . , pp. 58.
Innocenti Research Report It’s Difficult to Grow Up in an Apocalypse: Children's and adolescents' experiences, perceptions and opinions on the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada AUTHOR(S) Heather L. Ramey; Heather L. Lawford; Yana Berardini; Sarah Caimano; Sarah Epp; Chantelle Edwards; Lisa Wolff Published: 2022 Innocenti Research Report According to children and youth in Canada, what were the negative and positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives? How did they experience changes in their relationships; daily schedule; time at home; use of technology; or feelings of anger, worry, loneliness or gratitude? How were these experienced by marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ and Indigenous children and youth?To date, research on Canadian children’s and youth’s experiences during the pandemic has lacked a broad exploration of their own perspectives. This qualitative study, however, was informed by three child and youth advisory teams, with input from 10 focus groups; 23 semi-structured interviews and a total of 74 young people (10–19), from four provinces and one territory.The report concludes with a set of 4 policy recommendations – by its participants – addressed to federal, provincial/territorial and local governments, as well as to school districts, and child and youth service sectors. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 46 | Tags: canada, child mental health, COVID-19, indigenous children, indigenous population, mental health, mental health services, pandemic, participatory research, remote learning, rights of indigenous children × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Heather L. Ramey; Heather L. Lawford; Yana Berardini; Sarah Caimano; Sarah Epp; Chantelle Edwards; Lisa Wolff 2022 It’s Difficult to Grow Up in an Apocalypse: Children's and adolescents' experiences, perceptions and opinions on the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. , pp. 46.
Miscellanea Best of UNICEF Research 2022 AUTHOR(S) UNICEF Innocenti Published: 2022 Miscellanea Best of UNICEF Research showcases the most rigorous, innovative and impactful research produced by UNICEF offices worldwide. While evidence highlights emerging issues, it also informs decisions and provides policy and programme recommendations for governments and partners, to improve children's lives.This year, Best of UNICEF Research celebrates its 10th edition. It features 12 research projects that the selection panel concurred deserved special recognition for delivering results for children in 2022. How? By informing decision-making, shaping policy, raising public awareness, driving social change, and giving children and young people a voice on the issues that affect them most through participatory research. These endeavours showcase both the power of innovation in the face of emergency and crisis, and the virtues of agility, endurance and scalability. They also offer solutions and ways to learn from each other. Each piece of research offers a set of adaptable tools: validated methodologies; templates for emergency response plans; methods of monitoring and measuring progress; and examples of successful collaboration between stakeholders. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 124 | Tags: access to education, adolescent girls, adolescents, behavioural change, breastfeeding, child diseases, child mental health, child protection, climate change, communicable diseases, COVID-19, COVID-19 response, data analysis, data collection, disease control, disease prevention, drinking water, early childhood development, early childhood education, education, electronic data processing, employment of women, epidemiology, evaluation, female genital mutilation, gender discrimination, gender equality, gender issues, gender-responsive programmes, hygiene, infant feeding, innovations, malnutrition, maternal and child nutrition, mental health, mental health services, nutrition policy, nutrition programmes, primary health care, reproductive health, research, sanitation, sexual violence, social norms, water, water resources × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION UNICEF Innocenti 2022 Best of UNICEF Research 2022. , pp. 124.