01582nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001260003800042653001800080653002200098653002700120100001100147700001400158700001300172700001500185245014100200856007400341300001200415520093100427020001801358       2019                            d  bSpringer International Publishing10aSocial stigma10aMental well-being10aMental health problems1 aJuma K1 aWekesah F1 aKabiru C1 aIzugbara C00aBurden, Drivers, and Impacts of Poor Mental Health in Young People of West and Central Africa: Implications for Research and Programming  uhttps://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-030-21092-2.pdf  a233-2653 aThis chapter summarizes existing research on mental health among young people in West and Central Africa (WCA). Although data in this area are limited, small scale, nonrepresentative studies suggest that  mental disorders are prevalent in WCA due to civil conflicts and political instability, sexual violence, poverty, underemployment and unemployment, substance abuse, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS among other factors. Mental health conditions put young people in the subregion at risk for poor schooling, health, and livelihood outcomes, exposing them to stigma, isolation, discrimination, and human rights abuses. These findings highlight the need to scale up effective interventions that ensure appropriate and timely access to mental health and minimize the long-term impacts of untreated mental health disorders. Findings also underscore the need for more data on prevalence, risk, and protective factors.  a9783030210915