41 percent of Spanish adolescents, or four in ten, say they have had a mental health problem or think they have suffered from one. This is the main conclusion of the Opinion Barometer of Children and Adolescents 2023-2024 which is prepared jointly by the University of Seville and Unicef.
The study also reveals that many of them have not spoken to anyone about the problem, especially 1 of 3. More than half didn’t even ask for help. Of them, more than 60 percent haven’t done so because they don’t want other people to find out what’s happening to them.
low self-esteem, alcohol and other drug useas well as physical health problems are, according to this report, among the causes that harm your mental health.
Externally, adolescents highlight problems such as being victims of intimidation or cyberbullying or having family problems.
For its part, the report also served to show the internal factors that adolescents identify as promoting mental health. The main ones are the sleeping habits74.9 percent mentioned it. Meanwhile, 62.3 percent talked about physical exercise. 50.6 percent indicated a balanced diet.
A good relationship with your parents is key
Among the externals, 82.6 percent alluded to a good relationship with parents and 82 percent spoke of support from loved ones. More generally, 78.6 percent emphasized the importance of doing things they enjoy and that make them feel good.
The Barometer, entirely drawn up from the opinions of adolescents, presents other questions linked to mental health.
Almost all, 98.5 percent, say they have used social media at some point. Meanwhile, 73.5 percent assure that I never felt stress by the amount of information received on mental health.
Likewise, 70 percent have never or almost never used the social networks speaking out about mental health. 32% admitted to feeling the need to show a perfect life in the online world, without it being true.
Networks affect girls more
Also notable are the differences between girls and boys. More than twice as many adolescent girls (34.3%) as women (13.3%) compare themselves to people who post their perfect life on social media. 73.5 percent of them admit that it affects them a lot or a lot, which only 50.8 percent of boys agree with.
However, it does not appear that they are very widespread. mental health mythseven though one in four adolescents surveyed believe that people with mental health problems feel shame.
However, 8 out of 10 people would maintain a friendship with someone visiting a mental health professional. Only 16.2 percent believe that these people do not behave as well as others in class.
The director of the study, Pilar Ramosbelieves that “there is an urgent need to break the stigma as a society and normalize asking for help.” He further highlights the importance of intervening in educational centers, because young people “think that they will not be kept secret, that counselors are not sufficiently trained or that they do not have time to take care of them.”
For his part, Jose Maria Veraexecutive director of UNICEF, stressed that it is “essential to promote actions, campaigns, initiatives or training in all areas that contribute to the eradication of stigma and prejudice.”
