Last updated on Wednesday, 02/03/2022
The number of young people with mental disorders has grown significantly in recent years and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation (OECD, 2021). It has also brought to the fore the debate about mental health. How much do you think you know about mental health? What do you do to take care of it?
Have you already felt like you do not think, react, feel in the way you want? If you have difficulties coping with experiences in your life, if you feel something is not right or if you feel lost and anxious, maybe it’s time to take care of your mental health.
Mental illnesses are disorders that affect mood, thinking, feelings and behaviours and your ability to relate to others. They can have consequences that extend into adulthood, affecting both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities for a fulfilling life.
One in seven young people aged 10-19 years suffers from a mental disorder, representing 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group (source: WHO). That is why it is so important to be well informed about this issue. Mental disorders are treatable and can be overcome, and it is extremely important that you seek help. You are not alone.
What is mental health?
The World Health Organisation defines mental health as a "state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own capabilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and can make a contribution to his or her community". Being mentally healthy means being able to fulfill oneself, to adapt to circ*mstances, to be productive at work, to contribute to life in the community, as well as to relate to others.
Mental health problems are no different from any other type of health problems. And as such there are always treatments to tackle them. It should also be noted that mental problems can occur to anyone at any stage of their life but those affecting children and young people require urgent assistance to avoid long-lasting consequences into adulthood.
We have interviewed Alejandra who has experienced this first-hand and has given us her opinion about it. Please note that Alejandra is not an expert/professional in mental health.
Important facts
To give you an idea of the impact of mental illness on young people, take a look at the following facts (WHO):
- Emotional disorders. Globally, depression is the fourth leading cause of illness and disability among young people aged 15-19; anxiety is the ninth leading cause.
- Behavioural disorders. They are the second leading cause of the burden of disease among adolescents aged 10-14 years; and the eleventh leading cause among those aged 15-19 years.
- Eating disorders. These usually appear during adolescence and early adulthood. They often coexist with depression and/or anxiety.
- Psychosis. Most commonly emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood.
- Suicide and self-harm. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents worldwide. Mental problems play a key role in the emergence of suicidal behaviour, with depression and hopelessness being associated with 9 out of 10 cases of suicide.
The Covid-19 crisis had made these challenges even more urgent with many children and young people suffering from prolonged isolation and lack of interactions with teachers and peers, experiencing anxiety and psychological problems, and being exposed to more stressful home environments, with heavy consequences on their motivation and overall emotional well-being.
Some tips for good mental health
Your lifestyle influences your physical and mental state, and there are many things you can do to maintain a balance and try to preserve your health. However, you may follow all these and still need help from a professional.
- Take care of your body. Practising sports has physical, mental and social health benefits. It is also a great ally in preventive and therapeutic intervention processes.
- Take care of your nutrition and diet. Your nutritional state plays a very important role in your mental health. Therefore, it is important that you eat a balanced and varied diet.
- Get enough sleep. Sleeping well and feeling rested is essential for a good quality of life.
- Learn about your emotions. There are no good or bad emotions, they are all necessary for your well-being. They have the function of giving you information about what is happening, don't avoid them.
- Communicate with your loved ones. Share how you feel with people you trust.
- Have an active life. Achieve at least 10.000 steps a day
- Remember that you are not alone. If you think you can't: ask for help.
- It is ok not to be ok sometimes.
Barriers to seeking professional help
Access to mental health care resources may not always be easy, some people may struggle to find the right professional for them or be unable to afford the treatment they need if it is not covered by the public health system. Many public and non-for-profit services are there to support you free of charge, make sure to look around.
Another widespread obstacle to seeking help is the stigma attached to mental health problems and the fear of what others will think. It is necessary to dismantle misleading ideas about mental illnesses by educating ourselves and others about mental health and normalising asking for help to take care of our mental health.
How and where to ask for help?
There are many options and many places you can turn to for help, so if you need it, don't wait any longer! Here is a short list.
In education:
- Tutor
- School counselling department
In the medical or health field:
- Specialised resources such as mental health centres
- Suicide emergency call centres
- Primary health care centre. There a general doctor will evaluate your condition and, depending on the outcome, may refer you to a mental health specialist.
- Emergencies: 112. If your situation is life-threatening, get emergency help immediately by calling 112, available 24 hours a day.
In the social sphere:
- Municipal services, both youth care services, educational services and social services.
In addition, each European country has its own helplines and services to support your mental health.
What is the European Union doing?
The European Commission has long been dedicated to improving the mental health of people and supports and complements national policies. It also selects and finances best practices implementation related to mental health, in line with national and EU priorities.
The main objective of the European Union in the field of mental health is to support real action, focusing on the needs and priorities of EU countries.
This clearly reflects the importance that should be given to mental health. We need to leave the stigma behind, talk about it and seek support because the earlier a mental health issue is tackled the better.
Additionally, the Joint Action on Mental Health (ImpleMENTAL) will implement a multi-level national suicide prevention programme and a system reform to strengthen community-based services with a specific focus on services for children and young people. More specifically, the multilingualiFightDepression awareness website aims to promote and increase awareness of depression and suicidal behaviour by providing comprehensive information about depression and its consequences.
The step-wise intervention programme to tackle depression will be implemented via the EEAD (European Alliance Against Depression) Best project, which targets depression and suicide globally. It also aims to reduce stigma, improve health literacy and increase help-seeking behaviour.
Last but not least, the European Commission has created a Youth Wiki that gathers information on national policies supporting the health and well-being of young people.
