Myth: Prevention is ineffective. Mental diseases cannot be prevented.

Fact: Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders focuses on addressing established risk factors such as trauma exposure, which can affect the likelihood that children, teenagers, and young adults will acquire mental health problems. Promoting children's and youth's social-emotional well-being results in:

• Increased overall productivity
• Improved educational results
• Reduced crime rates
• Greater economic strength
• Reduced health-care costs
• Enhanced quality of life
• Extended lifespan
• Family life has improved.