Overview

• Hospitalizations for adolescent depression in Spain climbed over 1,200% from 173 cases in 2000 to nearly 1,800 in 2021, according to a mid-2025 UNIR study.
• Girls account for 74.3% of these admissions and 75% of cases occur among 14–17-year-olds, with the average patient age dropping in 2021.
• Self-harm, including suicidal ideation and attempts, emerged as the leading cause of these hospital stays, which average seven days.
• The COVID-19 pandemic had a multiplying effect on mental health admissions even as other hospital admissions declined.
• Researchers call for urgent measures such as official child-adolescent mental health training, strengthened school screening programs and increased youth mental health resources.