Children’s Mental Health in Europe: Urgent Gaps and Policy Recommendations

Taken from "Unequal Childhoods: Rights on paper should be rights in practice" Eurochild 2025 flagship report on children in need across Europe.

Children’s mental health services in Europe are under intense pressure.  Without urgent action to expand, coordinate, and invest in services, millions of children face preventable psychological harm. Governments must prioritise child-centred, equitable, and evidence-based mental health systems to safeguard the well-being and rights of all children. This sub-report includes information from 34 countries, provides examples of promising and effective practices, and offers general recommendations to support children’s mental health and well-being.

Recommendations for Policymakers

1. Expand Access and Coverage:
   • Increase the number of child mental health professionals and multidisciplinary teams.
   • Extend services to rural and underserved areas; implement mobile mental health units.
   • Ensure trauma-informed, refugee-sensitive, and child-centred approaches.
     
     
2. Invest in Prevention and Early Intervention:
   • Strengthen school-based counselling and low-threshold services.
   • Detect mental, behavioural, and developmental challenges early.
     
     
3. Improve Data Collection and Monitoring:
   • Create child-focused national monitoring systems.
   • Include disaggregated data and children’s voices in surveys and research.
     
     
4. Enhance Coordination and Holistic Support:
   • Integrate health, education, social services, and civil society efforts.
   • Adopt rights-based approaches with child and family participation in service design.
     
     
5. Address Inequalities and Emerging Risks:
   • Focus support on vulnerable children: migrant, refugee, minority, children in care, or conflict-affected.
   • Reduce school pressure, address bullying, and raise awareness about online harms.
     
     
6. Ensure Sustainable Investment:
   • Provide long-term funding for child mental health services.
   • Train, retain, and incentivize professionals, particularly in underserved regions.
     

Read the full subreport