These findings, based on data from nearly 280,000 adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 across 44 countries, highlight a growing crisis in the wellbeing of adolescents, with girls and economically disadvantaged youth are the hardest hit.
“Today’s adolescents are facing unprecedented challenges in their social environment,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe“with possible long-term consequences for their health and future life prospects.”
“These findings will be one in the same A wake-up call for all of us to act now to improve the conditions in which our young generation is growing up,” he emphasized.
Refuse support from family and friends
The support of family and friends are vital pillars of young people’s mental health and overall development, yet the report shows a worrying decline in both. .
From 2021 to 2022, Only 68% of teens reported feeling supported by their families, down from 73% in 2018.
The drop was even steeper for girls, with only 64% feeling strong family support compared to 72% in 2018.
Similarly, peer support decreased by 3%. This decrease is especially pronounced among older adolescents, who are already more vulnerable to mental health challenges.
Furthermore, the report found that socioeconomic status continues to play an important role in shaping adolescents’ experiences, with a 9% difference between low-income and adolescents. from wealthier households.
The disparity also extends to peer relationships, with disadvantaged people also less likely to feel supported by friends or classmates.
Anxiety in the classroom
Academic pressure is increasing, with significant consequences for adolescents’ mental health.
Two-thirds of 15-year-old girls reported feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork during the study period, up sharply from 54% in 2018. Boys also reported increased pressure, albeit at a moderate level. lower.
Dr Irene García-Moya, one of the report authors, said: “The increasing pressure on adolescents is a multifaceted problem. Girls are often caught between competing expectations of academic excellence and traditional social roles, while boys may face pressure to appear strong and self-reliant. .prevent them from seeking the support they need.”
The report also found that girls felt less supported by their teachers.
Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat warns: “These findings point to a growing gap in support structures for adolescent girls, who not only face greater pressures at school study but also receive less support from family and teachers than boys.” WHO Director of National Health Policy and Systems for Europe.
“This is not the first time our HBSC studies have shown different health impacts between boys and girls,” she added. emphasizes the need to carefully consider the gender dimension of the issue.
Recommended action
“Our findings clearly show that No one sector or industry can solve these challenges alone,” speak WHO Regional Director Kluge, emphasized that the report calls for urgent coordinated efforts.
He added: “Building safer and more inclusive school environments, providing economic support where needed, and implementing gender-sensitive interventions all require the participation of different fields, from education, health to public policy.
Key recommendations include strengthening family support through the creation of targeted policy interventions for families, such as parenting programs and financial support for households. low-income families.
Reducing study pressure is also very important. The authors advocate for more balanced homework policies for schools, reducing class sizes and integrating mental health support into the curriculum.
Furthermore, addressing disparities through inclusive social policies and programs that prioritize marginalized communities is critical.
Dr. Kluge emphasized the importance of engaging youth in every step of the policy-making process. He noted that “this is a key function of the WHO/Europe flagship agency Youth4Health initiative, ensuring young people have a much greater say in the decisions that affect their lives.”
