Stigmatizing language in alcohol-associated cirrhosis open notes: Persistent but declining.

Mental health conditions, including mental disorders (MDs), substance use disorders (SUDs) and self-harm, contribute to the primary burden of years lived with disability (YLD). Research indicates that MDs affect approximately 13% of adolescents worldwide. A considerable body of research indicates that mental health conditions increase the likelihood of premature death among affected individuals. Most mental health conditions begin in adolescence and steadily increase during this period, but they are often undetected until later in life, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes and higher medical costs. China’s rapid economic development, along with rising academic pressures, growing social expectations, and changes in family structures, has contributed to the increasing burden of mental health conditions among adolescents. Increased academic demands have led to reduced physical activity, insufficient sleep, and prolonged sedentary behavior, all of which are associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Meanwhile, widening urban–rural disparities have driven many rural laborers to migrate to cities in search of higher-paying jobs, resulting in a substantial population of left-behind adolescents. Lacking parental emotional support and educational supervision, these adolescents show higher rates of SUDs, internet addiction, and bullying victimization. In addition, family structure and parenting expectations, shaped by past fertility policies and contemporary social change, may affect parent–child relationships and depressive symptoms. These interacting contextual factors underscore the need for a comprehensive assessment of mental health burden among Chinese adolescents. Chinese adolescents face severe mental health challenges, however, China’s mental health system is understaffed and exhibits significant disparities in resource allocation between urban and rural areas. In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of policies to promote adolescent mental health. However, previous studies in China have mainly focused on single conditions or selected outcomes, and limited evidence has assessed MDs, SUDs, and self-harm together within a standardized burden-of-disease framework. Such an integrated assessment can help identify priority conditions, vulnerable age- and sex-specific groups, sociodemographic index (SDI)-related patterns, attributable risk factors, and future policy needs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the burden of MDs, SUDs, and self-harm among Chinese adolescents aged 10 to 19 years from 1990 to 2021, examine differences by age and sex, explore their relationship with SDI, and project future trends.