When one plus one doesn't equal two: a commentary on strengthening the care of young people experiencing comorbid chronic pain and mental health conditions.

Chronic pain and mental health conditions are often conceptualised and communicated to young people, and others, as totally separate entities. Taken together however, 'one plus one does not equal two', with this comorbidity representing a cumulative load impacting beyond either condition alone. Yet care is often siloed, and a reason why young people are bounced from one silo to another. Drawing on recent calls to action on delivering transformative action in paediatric pain and youth mental health, we consider how, as a community, we can strengthen person-centred equitable care with and for young people experiencing these comorbid conditions, in the context of their broader health and wellbeing. Assembling a diverse transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral group of international pain and health systems experts, including a young lived experience partner, we have co-created transformation targets to improve the care and lives of young people living with these comorbid conditions. We propose practical actionable solutions to better support 'connected needs, connected care and connected systems', with the goal of improving young people's health and wellbeing now and into the future. PERSPECTIVE: This commentary presents co-created transformation targets aimed at strengthening person-centred care for young people experiencing co-occurring chronic pain and mental health conditions. Practical actions are provided to connect young people's needs, care, and systems to support person-centred and equitable care relevant to context.