In contemporary times, mental health problems are highly prevalent among all age groups, especially among youngsters. According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four children in India aged between 13-15 suffers from depression and related symptoms.
WHO reports that the suicide rate was the highest in India among ten countries in the South-East Asian region. It showed an alarming result that the prevalence of suicide was 35.5% in 1 lakh Indians and the same rate was 3.8% and 25.8% in Indonesia and Nepal respectively. Another shocking revelation was that depression is the second-highest contributor to death among the age group of 15-29 years. One in seven teenagers and young adults (10-19 years) suffers from a mental disorder worldwide.
The research found that depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are some of the common mental health issues observed among adolescents. The consequences of failing to address mental health conditions extend to adulthood which leads to the impairment of their psychological and physical health.
During adolescence, many people develop various social and emotional habits that play an active role in their mental well-being. Regular physical exercise, enough sleep, involvement in problem-solving activities positively affect one’s mental health. People who have grown up in a protective, encouraging, and supportive environment at school and home are mentally healthy. On the other hand, adolescents who have spent their childhood in a difficult environment are more likely to develop mental health issues.
Children have limited avenues to explore opportunities and communicate with new people due to the closing of educational institutes during the Covid pandemic. The situation is negatively affecting their psychological well-being. However, WHO experts suggest that the people in India need to wholeheartedly accept youngsters struggling with mental health problems like depression or anxiety and provide enough emotional support to them.