Ensuring mental and brain health across the life course requires strategies for both promotion and prevention, also involving sectors outside health and social care. In the context of suicide prevention for example, education, employment, agriculture, and the media all play an important role.

Many individual, social and environmental factors can affect brain and mental health across the life course. These risk factors are strongly associated with socioeconomic status and may be accompanied by a lack of access to services and social isolation. Major risk factors include exposure to violence, poverty, malnutrition, chronic stress, social isolation and discrimination, affecting not only but especially vulnerable groups such as ethnic minority groups, LGBTI, and people affected by humanitarian emergencies. Risk factors that particularly affect brain development and functioning are: perinatal factors (including maternal health, nutrition, congenital infections, maternal substance use, and labour/delivery); accidents that result in brain trauma; infections that cause neurological problems; exposure to environmental pollutants with neurotoxic effects (e.g. heavy metals); exposure to certain pesticides; air pollution and harmful use of alcohol and drugs.

On the other hand, many protective factors help promote mental and brain health across the life course, such as responsive caregiving in early life, access to education, secure and safe environments, social connection and support, adequate nutrition and good physical health.

Social isolation and loneliness among older people: advocacy brief

Tobacco use and mental health (WHO/EURO)

Harmful use of alcohol, alcohol dependence and mental health conditions (WHO/EURO)

Motion for your mind: physical activity for mental health promotion, protection and care (WHO/EURO)