Irish teenagers are among the least happy in high-income countries, despite leading the world in academic skills, a UN report has indicated.
The study by UNICEF drew on official data from many countries, making comparisons and offering analysis.
The report - Report Card 19: Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World - compares the well-being of children across 43 OECD and European Union countries.
According to the findings, Irish teenagers are succeeding in school but struggling in life, with nearly one in three 15-year-olds reporting low life satisfaction.
Ireland's youth suicide rate was also found to be above the international average.
"These findings are stark," said UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Peter Power.
"Ireland's teens are succeeding in school, but struggling in life. We must match our investment in academic achievement with the same urgency for mental and emotional wellbeing," he added.
Analysing change from 2018 to 2022, the report found the Covid-19 pandemic had a marked negative impact on children's mental health as a result of school shutdowns and social isolation.
Across 26 countries with available data, life satisfaction among adolescents declined in 22.
More than one in four children and young teenagers were also found to be overweight or obese.
UNICEF Ireland has called on the Government to take targeted actions to protect child wellbeing, including increasing investment in school mental health services, improving school meals and strengthening digital resilience.
