Two out of three young adults (aged 18 to 30) have experienced at least one traumatic or highly stressful event during childhood, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) covering the European Union (EU), Iceland, and Norway.

The WHO estimates that 40% of all adults in the European region have experienced at least one adverse event in childhood.

Among the young people affected, 23% have endured four or more negative experiences, resulting in serious consequences for their mental and physical health, education, social situation, and behaviour.

“What’s often missed is just how widespread this is. We’re not talking about a small, unlucky minority,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of Health Systems, WHO/Europe.

These are experiences linked to abuse, neglect, family dysfunction, or exposure to violence.

The survey, funded by the EU and conducted in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, involved 26,700 people between November 2025 and January 2026.

The report notes that this comes against a backdrop of a 21% rise in mental health disorders across OECD countries over the past 20 years.

Today, one in five Europeans suffers from mental health disorders, and the adverse experiences analysed in the report are among the causes being studied by experts.

Parental separation or death—which affects all social groups—is the most common form of ACE, cited by 39% of respondents.

Economic, social, and gender-related factors also play a role: those most affected by negative experiences include young women, individuals belonging to ethnic minorities or with migrant status, and those who experienced severe material deprivation during childhood.

33% of young women report having suffered sexual abuse, compared to 25% of young men. Nearly 52% of young adults from the poorest backgrounds witnessed domestic violence while growing up.

Anxiety, depression, addiction, suicidal thoughts, and acting out… The accumulation of trauma also leads to lower levels of trust in others and a weaker sense of belonging.

More than three-quarters of young adults who reported four or more negative experiences required the services of a psychologist or psychiatrist in the past 12 months, compared to 37% of those who had experienced no such events.

Young people who have endured the most adversity are six times more likely to be victims of physical violence and ten times more likely to perpetrate it themselves.

The WHO emphasises prevention by supporting families and addressing factors such as poverty, social exclusion, and violence.

Caring relationships make a significant difference. The report establishes a direct link between the presence of supportive adults and better mental health.

Finally, the WHO calls for public services to adopt a trauma-informed approach, ensuring that health, social services, education, and justice systems are equipped to identify and assist individuals affected by childhood adversity.

All these measures can help break the cycle before it is passed on to the next generation.