The period of childhood and adolescence is critical for ensuring proper development of both physical and mental faculties. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ‘Adolescence’ as the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, and ranges from 10 to 19 years.
The importance of this period is underlined by research findings showing onset of the first psychiatric disorder by the age of 14 years in about one-third of all individuals, by the age of 18 years in about half of all individuals with mental health disorder. The peak and median age of onset for all mental health disorders is 14.5 and 18 years respectively.
“The child is the father of the man” – William Wordsworth
Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-021-01161-7