Systematic review and meta-analysis of child and adolescent mental health in South Africa

Click here to read the report https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.09.25335400v1.full.pdf

This is the first systematic review of prevalence studies on child and adolescent mental health in SA.

10.1% of young South Africans live with depressive disorders.

6.7% experience anxiety disorders.

As shown in Figure 3, 56 prevalence estimates were reported for mental disorders, the most common of which were depressive disorders (n=15), PTSD (n=9), anxiety disorders (n=8), disruptive behaviour disorders (n=6), and ADHD (n=4).

Prevalence estimates we observed for depression (10.1%) and anxiety disorders (6.7%) are broadly aligned with global estimates in studies which assess symptom severity.

Even though suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people globally[39], there are only 11 studies reporting suicidal behaviours and self-harm among SA youth

These findings come from a systematic review by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), released ahead of World Mental Health Day 2025

This work was funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute. Additional support was provided by the South African Medical Research Council.