The adolescent population of Mexico exhibits significantly higher indicators of psychological distress, behaviors associated with suicide and exposure to violent events compared to the adult population. These findings come from the results of the National Survey of Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption 2025 (ENCODAT), officially released by the Secretary of Health. The data configure an epidemiological panorama that demands urgent and focused interventions.
Analysis of critical mental health indicators
During the presentation of the study, Dr. David Kershenobich, head of the agency, highlighted that young people between 12 and 17 years old have the highest prevalence of mental health problems. This situation identifies them as the most vulnerable demographic segment, establishing them as an absolute priority for the design and implementation of public policies in the psychosocial field. The survey operates as a fundamental diagnostic tool to guide resources and strategies.
Psychological discomfort or distress is reported more frequently in adolescence. The prevalence is 13.2% in adolescent females and 6.9% in their male peers. In contrast, the adult population presents figures of 10.2% and 5.1%, respectively. This disparity not only quantifies an immediate problem, but also evidences an rising generation gap in terms of emotional well-being and psychological resilience, possibly aggravated by contemporary social factors.
Risk behaviors and adverse environmental factors
In the area of suicidal behavior, ENCODAT 2025 reveals that adolescents register higher rates in the entire cascade of events. Suicidal ideation (recurrent thoughts) reaches 3.3% of young people, compared to 1.7% of adults. The planning phase occurs in 1.9% of adolescents versus 1.0% of older adults. Finally, the suicidal attempt stands at 1.5% in the youth group, practically tripling the figure for the adult group (0.5%). The analysis by gender indicates that adolescent women constitute the subgroup with the highest incidence in these indicators, pointing out an urgency for approaches with a gender perspective.
Exposure to violence, in its physical, emotional or sexual manifestations, also impacts the youth population more harshly. While the general prevalence (from 12 to 65 years) is 12.3%, among adolescents it rises to 18.1%. In the adult population, the figure remains at 11.4%. This environment of chronic adversity acts as a toxic stressor that undermines mental health and healthy development, with long-term consequences.
Other behavioral risk factors identified include participation in gambling and problematic video game use. Although the percentages are lower, 6.9% of adolescents participate in gambling, almost doubling the adult rate (3.9%). In both groups, participation is predominantly male. These behaviors can function as escape mechanisms or dysfunctional emotional self-regulation in the face of underlying psychological distress.
Faced with this complex scenario, the Ministry of Health has stressed that primary prevention and specialized care for adolescent mental health will be central axes of the national strategy. The pillars of action include early detection in school and community settings, strengthening psychosocial support networks and actively promoting safe and protective environments. The authorities emphatically called on families, caregivers and educational personnel to be trained in the identification of alarm signs and to know the referral protocols to specialized mental health services, guaranteeing an effective and timely care route.
Share this analysis to raise awareness of a crucial public health issue and explore more specialized content on our site.
