Mental Health challenges among Youth

Jan 13, 2021 Leader Leading Youth 0

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Mental health is described as a state of complete mental, physical, social and spiritual wellbeing. According to the World Health Organization, one in four people will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Globally, our world is home to 1.8 billion young people of age 10-24 years, contributing about one-fourth of the total population.

The young population is growing fastest especially, in the poorest nations. The young age, which is the formative period carries special significance for mental health since most mental and substance use disorders (MSUD) have onset in young age or adolescence, and many tend to run a chronic or relapsing course.

A world changing at a fast pace carries a special significance since it further poses mental health challenges, especially for the young. Mental and Substance Use Disorders are recognized as the leading cause of all nonfatal burden of disease and years of disability. Young adolescents and young adults (10-29) probably suffer the most. The burden associated with common mental disorders (depressive and anxiety disorders) rises abruptly in childhood (1-10 years) and peaks in adolescence to middle age (10-29 years). Mental health disorders such as Bipolar Affective disorder, Schizophrenia are less common among young adults.

The burden from illicit substance is highest among young adults, in the age bracket (15-29) but for alcohol, the largest burden is observed in the age group of 25-50 years. According to a World Health Organization report, alcohol consumption contributes up to 3 million deaths each year as well as to other disabilities. Harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of diseases. Mental health challenges have a wide range of causes. It is likely that for many people, there is a complicated combination of factors although different people may be deeply affected by certain things than others. Among the youth, poor mental health may be due to; childhood abuse, trauma or neglect, social isolation or loneliness, discrimination or stigma, bereavement (loss of a close person), social disadvantage (poverty, debts), severe long term stress, unemployment, homelessness or poor housing, domestic violence, bullying, alcohol and drug misuse.

However, some mental health issues are attributed to genetic factors. Though researchers haven’t yet been able to point out the specific genes, Chemical imbalance in the brain is sometimes the reason given by psychiatrists and psychologists to explain mental health disorders.
The Coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in substance use disorder mainly among the youth and in particular women. In an interview with the New Vision newspaper three months ago, the acting Executive Director of Butabika hospital, Dr. Juliet Nakku revealed that 25% of the women admitted at their facility suffer from alcohol and drug abuse.

By Jimmy Odoki Acellam

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