Urgent call for investment in adolescent well-being, PMNCH report highlights economic and social benefits

Failure to act could result in  potential global losses amounting to an estimated USD 110 trillion

A new report, released at the 77 World Health Assembly, highlights the need for increased investment in adolescent well – being.  Commissioned by The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), in collaboration with Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies of Victoria University in Australia, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA, the report highlights the economic and social benefits. 

The report finds that failure by all stakeholders to substantially increase investment in programmes targeted at improving adolescent well-being would result in a staggering economic cost, with potential global losses amounting to an estimated USD 110 trillion (benefits foregone) from 2024 to 2050. This equates to USD 4.1 trillion per year, or 7.7 per cent of the GDP of the countries included in the research for the report, which covers about 80 per cent of the world’s population.

The report showcases the benefits of investing in adolescent well-being. Benefit – to – cost ratios (BCRs) reveal  economic and social returns at least ten times the initial investment, and in many cases significantly higher. It has recently been estimated that a broad package of health services for adolescents is likely to give a return of USD 9.6 for every dollar invested; while investing in education and training for adolescents is likely to give a return of USD 28.6 for every dollar invested.  

While progress has been made in some areas of improving adolescent well-being, significant challenges persist, placing the well-being of adolescents at risk. 

High mortality rates is a major concern as, over 1.5 million adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 died in 2024, about 4500 daily. The leading causes of death – injuries (including road traffic injuries and drowning), inter-personal violence, self-harm and maternal injuries – are preventable (WHO)

Mental health issue is also prevalent as one in seven 10–19-year-olds globally experiences a mental health issue, with depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders among the leading causes of illness and disability. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–19-year-olds (WHO).

Along with these, adolescent pregnancy, education and employment, climate and environmental hazards, are also significant challenges. 

In addition to underlining human rights, demographic and epidemiological reasons for investing in the well-being of adolescents, the report, Adolescents in a changing world – The case for urgent investment, addresses the economic case for investment, focusing on the excellent returns from investing in; A broad package of health services for adolescents, tuberculosis prevention and treatment, myopia treatment, school feeding programmes, etc.

The report’s central conclusion is that the world urgently needs a new investment programme to improve the well-being of adolescents. This must be a global initiative, but it should be carried out at the local level with initiatives tailored to the realities of individual countries. The young people themselves must be involved and allowed to express their specific needs. Given the difficult debt position of many developing countries, substantial commitments from wealthier countries and from international institutions will be necessary.