Integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Youth

The adolescent phase is significant as it marks the beginning of many mental health disorders, with half of all such conditions commencing before the age of 15 years. Globally, one in seven adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years suffers from a mental disorder, with depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders being the primary causes of illness and disability in this age group. Adolescence also marks the onset of transitions like sexual initiation that have implications for sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Sexual, reproductive and mental health concerns are major threats to a secure and healthy progression into adulthood. The relationship between mental health and sexual and reproductive health is bi-directional. Early and unintended pregnancies can negatively impact young people’s physical, mental, and socioeconomic well-being. Likewise, poor mental health can influence young people’s sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Considering the connections between sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) outcomes and mental health, integrating both can broaden service access and enhance young people’s well-being. Integration implies capitalizing on opportunities within SRHR services to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and potentially incorporating SRHR into MHPSS interventions. Policy guidance is crucial for ensuring the successful integration of MHPSS into SRHR and vice versa. Nevertheless, policy reviews to determine the extent and manner of SRHR and MHPSS integration in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) are limited, despite their value in providing direction for advocacy efforts. The purpose of this review is to analyze existing and relevant SRHR, and MHPSS policies in the ESA region, both at regional and national levels, to determine the extent to which these policies address the integration of services targeting adolescents and young people.