Mental disorders are highly prevalent in Europe and significantly impact society. They affect all age groups and genders, causing substantial suffering and disability. There is growing evidence that mental disorders often begin in childhood and have long-term effects. Positive mental health is crucial for social cohesion, economic progress, and sustainable development in the EU. Mental health is a human right and essential for the EU's success as a knowledge-based society. The EU and member states have made significant efforts to address mental health challenges, creating indicators, guidelines, and tools to improve mental health interventions. However, much remains to be done, as many people, including children and adolescents, lack access to mental health care. There are also gaps in prevention and promotion, with many populations not benefiting from effective interventions. Poor implementation of mental health actions is linked to lack of political commitment, insufficient resources, resistance to innovation, and poor integration of mental health into other policies. These barriers must be addressed to achieve the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. The European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being, launched in 2008, emphasized the need for mental health to be a priority. In 2012, a Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-being was created, including a working group on children and adolescents in schools. This group reviewed existing knowledge, analyzed previous initiatives, and developed recommendations for improving mental health policies. This report confirms that children and adolescents' mental health is a critical public health issue in Europe. It highlights the effectiveness of school-based programs in improving mental health and well-being. The findings suggest that more can be done to address mental health challenges in the future, with important policy implications for European countries.Mental disorders are highly prevalent in Europe and significantly impact society. They affect all age groups and genders, causing substantial suffering and disability. There is growing evidence that mental disorders often begin in childhood and have long-term effects. Positive mental health is crucial for social cohesion, economic progress, and sustainable development in the EU. Mental health is a human right and essential for the EU's success as a knowledge-based society. The EU and member states have made significant efforts to address mental health challenges, creating indicators, guidelines, and tools to improve mental health interventions. However, much remains to be done, as many people, including children and adolescents, lack access to mental health care. There are also gaps in prevention and promotion, with many populations not benefiting from effective interventions. Poor implementation of mental health actions is linked to lack of political commitment, insufficient resources, resistance to innovation, and poor integration of mental health into other policies. These barriers must be addressed to achieve the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. The European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being, launched in 2008, emphasized the need for mental health to be a priority. In 2012, a Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-being was created, including a working group on children and adolescents in schools. This group reviewed existing knowledge, analyzed previous initiatives, and developed recommendations for improving mental health policies. This report confirms that children and adolescents' mental health is a critical public health issue in Europe. It highlights the effectiveness of school-based programs in improving mental health and well-being. The findings suggest that more can be done to address mental health challenges in the future, with important policy implications for European countries.