A/HRC/32/32 77. Cost-effective public health and psychosocial interventions, including social protection, psychoeducation, coaching, counselling and psychotherapy, as well as parent training, should be available and accessible to all adolescents in need and their families. Such approaches aim at improving behaviour, holistic development and specific life skills, and reduce the need for medication.54 Medications and inpatient services may be needed as part of treatment plans in complex cases of mental conditions, but these treatment modalities should be used with caution. Schools are well-placed to promote emotional wellbeing and mental health and to prevent mental health problems, for example, through classes on mental health literacy.55 78. Psychosocial interventions are not a luxury: on the contrary, when used in a manner consistent with adolescents’ rights, ethically and on the basis of evidence, they are essential interventions. Indeed, the World Health Assembly, in its resolution 65.4, has noted the increasing evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of such approaches to promote mental health and prevent mental disorders particularly among adolescents. Furthermore, the Committee on the Rights of the Child has strongly encouraged States to adopt and scale up these interventions, in line with their obligations to promote adolescents’ right to health.56 79. States should invest in programmes to challenge outdated beliefs and negative attitudes about mental conditions through the dissemination of information. Adolescents of different ages and representing different perspectives should be consulted in the design, development, implementation and monitoring of mental health services. Investments must be made to address gender discrimination in mental health and to reach out to marginalized communities, which are disproportionately vulnerable to mental health problems and experience greater barriers in accessing services. 80. The right to mental health must be underpinned by legal frameworks that are fully compliant with human rights standards, which demand respect for the evolving capacities of adolescents with disabilities and their physical integrity. Adolescents with disabilities are vulnerable to neglect, mental and physical abuse, sexual violence and forced sterilization or contraception while detained in mental health care settings. 81. Accordingly, all institutions should adopt and publish principles and standards of care and establish safe and effective reporting mechanisms and systems for redress in line with international standards.57 Monitoring mechanisms should be in place to ensure that violations of the rights of adolescents in mental health care settings can be reported and redress sought. 82. The vulnerability of the growing number of adolescents in refugee camps or seeking asylum is worrying. States are reminded of their broad international obligations to protect refugees58 and ensure necessary assistance in the enjoyment of their rights, including the right to optimum mental health and well-being. 54 55 56 57 58 16 Peter Fonagy and others, What Works for Whom?: A Critical Review of Treatments for Children and Adolescents (2014). “A preparatory action related to the creation of an EU network of experts in the field of adapted care for adolescents with mental health problems: final report” (2015). Committee on the Rights of the Child general comment No. 15. See www.unicef.org/protection/alternative_care_Guidelines-English.pdf. Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 22.