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According to a recent research that was published in the second Lancet Commission, 1.1 billion teens globally are expected to reside in areas where preventable health issues continue to endanger their lives. This alarming statistic highlights the pressing need for global action to address these issues and ensure that all adolescents have access to high-quality healthcare. The estimate was based on an examination of data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study.

One of the primary reasons of these issues in certain countries is the lack of an adequate healthcare infrastructure. Due to a lack of people and equipment, many healthcare institutions are unable to provide adolescents with essential treatments. In addition, there aren’t enough trained healthcare providers to meet this age group’s particular health needs.

Another barrier accessing teenage healthcare in these areas is the stigma attached to certain medical disorders. For example, many teens may delay seeking mental health treatment for fear of discrimination or censure. Additionally, societal stigma and barriers to accessing high-quality maternal healthcare may be experienced by adolescents who get pregnant.

The consequences of these preventable health issues are catastrophic. In addition to having a direct impact on teenagers’ health and wellbeing, they also have long-term consequences for their future. Pregnancy-related difficulties, for instance, might lead to maternal mortality or long-term health problems for both the mother and the fetus. Mental health issues may affect a person’s ability to live a happy life and reach their full potential.

Written by adolescent health experts, including those from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), the ground-breaking study demonstrated how advancing youth health and wellbeing might improve the public, social, and economic well-being of future generations.

According to the 2025 Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, investments in adolescent health and well-being are insufficient to address the range of problems that young people face. Despite making up 24% of the world’s population, or almost two billion people, teens only get 2.4% of global funding for health and development, according to the Commission, which brought together 44 Commissioners and 10 Youth Commissioners.

By 2030, over half of adolescents will live in countries with a disproportionately high prevalence of complex illnesses.

A report in The Lancet predicted that by 2050, 70% of teens globally will live in urban areas. According to the research, although rapid unplanned urbanization may have benefits, it may also accelerate housing instability, loneliness, and poverty.

The investigation found that if metropolitan public spaces were more inclusive and targeted towards young people, providing safe and engaging areas for them to congregate, there would be a major influence on health outcomes.

It also came to the conclusion that in order to successfully protect young people from abuse and provide equitable access to reproductive rights and education, urgent action was required. Almost half of teens have experienced violence, which has a detrimental impact on their social and emotional development as well as their general well-being. In 2030, around one-third of young women will not be engaged in post-secondary education, employment, or training, despite the fact that worldwide programs have mostly eliminated the gender gap in high school education.