High Youth Death Rates Signal An ‘Emerging Crisis’

AmiyaPranaya Harichandan

The world is facing a worrying new trend — more teenagers and young adults are dying, even though people overall are living longer. A major global study has warned that deaths among the young are rising because of preventable causes like heart attacks, alcohol and drug use, suicide, and injuries. Experts are calling it an “emerging crisis” that needs urgent attention.

The findings come from the Global Burden of Disease study, one of the most detailed health studies ever conducted. It was carried out by over 16,000 scientists using data from more than 300,000 sources. Published in The Lancet and presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin, the report gives a clear message — the world has made progress in fighting disease, but young people are being left behind.

Why More Young People Are Dying

The study shows that while death rates have fallen for most age groups since the 1950s, the opposite is true for teenagers and young adults. Young people, once considered the healthiest age group, are now increasingly at risk.

Heart attacks, once rare in the young, are becoming more common due to unhealthy diets, stress, and lack of exercise. Alcohol and drug abuse are also major causes of early death. Many young people are turning to substances to cope with pressure, anxiety, and social problems.

Suicide is another growing tragedy. Across many countries, more young people are dying by suicide than ever before. Experts link this rise to mental health struggles, loneliness, and economic stress.

Injuries, including road accidents and workplace incidents, also remain a big problem. In poorer countries, infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis continue to take young lives due to poor access to healthcare and vaccines.

Chronic Diseases and Mental Health

The study also shows that chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes are now responsible for nearly two-thirds of all global health problems. These conditions, once common mostly in older adults, are increasingly affecting younger people due to unhealthy lifestyles. youth death

Mental health problems, especially depression and anxiety, are also rising fast. Researchers say modern life — with its constant online pressure, economic worries, and social isolation — is taking a heavy toll on young minds. youth death

The authors of the study pointed out that nearly half of the world’s disease burden is preventable. This means many deaths could be avoided if people and governments tackled major risk factors such as high blood pressure, air pollution, smoking, alcohol use, and obesity. youth death

Life Expectancy Has Risen, But Gaps Remain youth death

Despite the worrying trends among the young, the study found that people overall are living longer than ever before. As of 2023, life expectancy has increased in all 204 countries studied. Global life expectancy is now 76.3 years for women and 71.5 for men — more than 20 years higher than in 1950.youth death

After the drop caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, life expectancy has rebounded strongly. But not everyone is benefiting equally. People in richer countries can expect to live around 83 years, while in sub-Saharan Africa the average is just 62. These differences show how unequal access to healthcare, clean air, safe food, and education still affects millions of lives.

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A Global Wake-Up Call

Experts behind the study say the rise in youth deaths should not be ignored just because overall numbers look better. “These figures are a wake-up call,” the researchers said. “We are seeing a generation at risk, and the world must act now.”

They are urging governments to focus more on prevention — encouraging healthy lifestyles, improving mental health care, and tackling issues like drug abuse and road safety. Schools, communities, and families also have an important role to play in supporting young people’s well-being. youth death

Improving health is not just about hospitals and medicines, the study says. It also depends on reducing poverty, improving education, creating safe jobs, and addressing climate and pollution challenges that affect people’s health every day.

A Warning and an Opportunity youth death

The Global Burden of Disease report is both a warning and an opportunity. It shows that the world has achieved amazing progress in medicine and public health. But it also reminds us that progress means little if young people — the future of every nation — are dying from preventable causes.

Protecting their physical and mental health should be a global priority. With the right care, awareness, and support, millions of these deaths can be prevented — and the world can build a healthier, more hopeful future for the next generation.