The impact of individual unfair treatment on their evaluation to government performance: the chain mediating effect of social trust and life satisfaction.

Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the onset of mental health problems, with the most comprehensive meta-analysis (192 studies; n≈709k) estimates ~35% of first onsets occur before 14, ~48% before 18, and ~63% before 25 (peak onset ≈14.5 years) (). Common mental health challenges among adolescents include psychological distress, loneliness, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or attempts, all of which are strongly associated with adverse life outcomes (, ). Globally, suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people, accounting for a significant proportion of preventable mortality (). Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29 years worldwide, and recent Global Burden of Disease estimates highlight its ongoing impact and the fact that many of these deaths are preventable (, ). Despite its importance, adolescent mental health often receives less attention than other public health priorities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) (, ). UNICEF’s argues that adolescent mental health has been “ignored for too long,” (). Recent commentaries and reviews highlight data and service gaps in LMICs and the scarcity of cross-national adolescent mental-health research that actually includes LMICs (). Across the Middle East, adolescents face distinctive psychosocial stressors related to armed conflict, displacement, economic hardship, and/or stigma, which are reflected in high rates of psychological distress and suicidality (–). Studies from conflict-affected settings and refugee populations report substantial burdens of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression (, ), while school-based surveys from countries such as Palestine (), Lebanon (), Jordan (), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) () indicate that roughly 10-20% of adolescents report suicidal ideation and notable proportions report suicide attempts, with Eastern Mediterranean estimates among the highest across WHO regions (). Common correlates of suicidality include loneliness, anxiety, bullying, violence exposure, food insecurity, substance use, and low parental support (, ). However, most evidence comes from single-country, cross-sectional studies or specific conflict-affected groups, so multi-country analyses capturing the broader Middle Eastern adolescent population remain limited (, ), despite the availability of standardized data through the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS).