In 2010, the Government of Kazakhstan recognized that adolescents in the country were facing a public health crisis: a rising suicide rate, with nearly 18 suicides per 100,000 adolescents. Acknowledging the importance of early mental health support, the Government turned to UNICEF and other partners to collaborate on a response. The outcome was…

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the mental health of a generation of children. But the pandemic may represent the tip of a mental health iceberg – an iceberg we have ignored for far too long.  The State of the World’s Children 2021  examines child, adolescent and caregiver mental health. It focuses on risks and protective factors…, commitment, ,, communication, and, action, as part of a comprehensive approach to promote good mental health for every child, protect vulnerable children and care for children facing the greatest challenges. Click here for an interactive view of data from the report., For parents, Click here  for tips and resources on how to talk to your child about mental health., For young people, Click here for tips on reaching out, providing support and breaking the stigma around mental health. Please contact:  pubdoc@unicef.org Options Available options Full report Executive summary Europe regional brief Latin America and the Caribbean regional brief Download file (PDF, 10,87 MB) (PDF, 840,92 KB) (PDF, 797,79 KB) (PDF, 669,76 KB) October…

By age 17, Alia* had already experienced significant loss and instability in her life. When she was 9, her mother died, and her father remarried. When she was 16, her father died, leaving Alia to care for her younger sister. Determined to continue her studies, Alia worked as a household helper. And she found guidance and information at a local…

If you feel your teen is a danger to themselves or others, you can seek help by calling your, national helpline, . If your country does not have a helpline, please seek professional support from trained and experienced carers., At home, Dina* has plenty of interests. The 14-year-old plants trees, cares for the garden and dances to K-pop videos in the living room. At school, things are more difficult, and interacting with peers, stressful. “They are not like me,” Dina said. “We do not share the same interests.” Recently, however, Dina has addressed her feelings of stress…

Daniel Delfin used to think that only superheroes could change the world. A shy and serious 21-year-old engineering student in Cebu, Daniel saw himself as a spectator of life and spent all his time studying, socializing and looking after his pet rabbit. “I don’t believe in youth engagement and participation,” he used to say. Then the COVID-19…

At age 14, Andre* (name changed) considers himself open-minded and able to adapt to new circumstances. About two years ago, however, his mother, Roxana, received a distressed phone call from Andre’s school. “He was under a desk, crying, and saying that he didn’t want to keep living,” Roxana said. Roxana knew her son needed help. But she and Andre…

To reduce health issues facing children due to the lack of electricity in hard-to-reach areas, UNICEF Malawi and partners are developing child-centred, renewable energy solutions that are adapted to existing social structures for improving essential services. This focus on the community context lends itself to working across sectors. This case…

Young people in Indonesia have a strong economic foundation on which to build their futures. However, the threat of natural disasters threatens the country’s long-term prosperity and the survival and full development of its nearly 46 million adolescent girls and boys. In response, UNICEF and government partners have stepped to the forefront of…

These brochures highlight the key results for maternal, newborn and adolescent health, immunization, child health, HIV and AIDS, and primary health care that are outlined in the 2020 Global Annual Results Report for Goal Area 1. Alongside the results for these critical areas of UNICEF’s programming are videos and human-interest stories that…

Show your teenager love and care, while looking after yourself

NEW YORK, 25 September 2020 –, Fragile gains made to advance women and children’s health are threatened by conflict, the climate crisis and COVID-19, according to a new report from Every Woman Every Child. Protect the Progress: Rise, Refocus, Recover, 2020 highlights that since the Every Woman Every Child movement was launched 10 years ago, spearheaded by the United Nations…, crisis, in particular, is exacerbating existing inequities, with reported disruptions in essential health interventions disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable women and children. At the height of pandemic lockdowns, schools were closed in 192 countries, affecting 1.6 billion students. Domestic violence and abuse of girls and women…, ###, A young boy gets inoculated beside a tank UNICEF/UN0202762/Hibbert A young boy gets vaccinated beside a tank in Afghanistan.

Although investment in early, effective intervention for the mental health of young people was identified as a “best buy” over a decade ago, current evidence suggests that adolescent mental health remains a neglected yet pressing issue.(2,3) The burden of suboptimal mental health is enormous both during adolescence and into adulthood, and it also…