Dear Colleagues,

Youth mental health represents a critical domain in psychiatry, since early-onset mental disorders can significantly affect developmental trajectories, social functioning, and long-term quality of life. Preventive strategies and early detection are essential to mitigate the progression of illness , reduce morbidity, and foster resilience during adolescence and young adulthood. A comprehensive understanding of the risk and protective factors, including genetic vulnerability, environmental exposures, and psychosocial contexts, is crucial for developing effective interventions. Schools, universities, and families play a pivotal role in both identifying early warning signs and implementing preventive measures, offering unique opportunities to detect psychological distress and vulnerability, as well as facilitate timely referral to specialized services.

This special issue will focus on preventive strategies and early detection in youth mental health, highlighting the contributions of schools and families in promoting mental well-being. Topics of interest include school-based screenings and psychoeducation programs, family engagement in early identification, risk prediction models, community- and digitally mediated interventions, neurobiological and psychosocial markers of vulnerability, longitudinal studies assessing outcomes of preventive approaches, and strategies to enhance resilience and coping in adolescents.

We welcome original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, intervention studies, and program evaluations. Comparative studies across populations, evaluation of conventional or innovative interventions, and development of early detection protocols in educational settings are particularly encouraged.

We look forward to your contributions!

Dr. Antonio Ventriglio and Prof. Dr. Julio Torales
Guest Editors