Approximately 45,800 adolescents take their own lives each year, the fifth most common cause of death in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19.
Nearly one in five people between the ages of 15 and 24 says they often feel depressed, according to a new UN report. The Children’s Agency, UNICEF and Gallup conducted interviews in 21 countries during the first six months of the year. This was reported by the Guardian.
Almost all children in the world are affected by blockages, school closures and disruption of routine activities. Combined with concerns about family income and health, many young people feel scared, angry and insecure about the future, the report said today.
Nearly a third of children in Cameroon say they often feel depressed or have no interest in doing anything, and one in 5 children in the UK and one in 10 children in Ethiopia and Japan feel the same way.
The report highlights that more than one in seven 10- to 19-year-olds (13%) live with a diagnosed mental disorder – 89 million boys and 77 million girls.
“It was a long, long 18 months for all of us – especially the children. With state blockades and movement restrictions related to the pandemic, children spent indelible years of their lives away from family, friends, classrooms, play – key elements of childhood. The impact is significant and this is the tip of the iceberg. “Even before the pandemic, too many children were burdened with unresolved mental health problems,” said Henrietta Faure, UNICEF’s chief executive.
As the pandemic approaches its third year and amid concerns about its impact on the mental health of children and young people, the report also reveals that a child commits suicide every 11 minutes. Approximately 45,800 adolescents take their own lives each year, the fifth most common cause of death in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19.
For young people between the ages of 15 and 19, it is the fourth most common cause of death after injury, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence. For girls in this age group, this is the third most common cause of death, and the fourth for boys, the report said.
Diagnosed mental health problems such as anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia can significantly harm the health, education and future of children and young people, the report said. Untreated mental health problems are also affecting global economies.
A new analysis by the London School of Economics included in the report shows that the economic cost of such neglect is £ 387.2 billion a year.
Despite seeking support, government spending on mental health worldwide accounts for 2.1% of total health spending. In some of the world’s poorest countries, governments spend less than $ 1 a person to treat mental illness.
The number of psychiatrists specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents is less than 0.1 per 100,000 in all countries except those with high incomes, where the figure is 5.5 per 100,000.
