Young people from the region present their visions and plans, how mental health can be improved

2023-06-21 19:02:00, Aktualitet CNA

Young people from the region present their visions and plans, how mental health

Thirty young people and policy makers from across the Western Balkans presented the results and recommendations that have emerged from their diligent efforts to address youth mental health in their economies at the Final Conference on Youth Mental Health, organized today in Belgrade from the Council for Regional Cooperation Project, funded by the EU, "Western Balkans Youth Laboratory" (WBYL).

"According to the World Health Organization, half of all mental disorders begin before the age of 14, and 75% by their mid-twenties. In most cases, the causes of the problems remain unknown and untreated. Knowing that young people make up more than 21% of the society of the Western Balkans, we felt the need to address the challenges related to the mental health of young people, acknowledging its importance and the impact it has on our societies, but also on provided a regional perspective in efforts to provide solutions. Therefore, in December 2021 we launched the Youth Laboratory for Mental Health. Now, almost a year and a half later, I am happy to say that young people from the region gathered around this policy laboratory have come up with some great results,

Young people from the region present their visions and plans, how mental health

After the creation of 13 regional recommendations and the work organized within the Working Groups, the representatives of each economy of the Western Balkans presented the work done so far. In Albania, the Youth Component of the National Action Plan for Mental Health 2023 and the Assessment for youth mental health services have been drafted; in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Framework was created for the creation and implementation of promotional and preventive activities in the field of mental health dedicated to young people aged 14 to 18 years; The amendment to the Administrative Instruction for Mental Health was drafted by Kosovars; in Montenegro the National Program for Youth Mental Health and the Guide for Young Workers;

Young people from the region present their visions and plans, how mental health

"Mental health is a critical aspect of a person's overall well-being. It affects individuals, families, communities and societies in general. Our focus on addressing the mental health challenges faced by young people is not only essential to their personal development and fulfillment, but also to the prosperity and progress of our region as a whole. By investing in the mental health of our young people, we are investing in the future of our societies", concluded Markovic.

The conference served as a platform for sharing and presenting the various activities undertaken by the Working Groups from the region, as well as the results and recommendations that have emerged from their diligent efforts to address youth mental health in their economies. Besides Mr. Markovic, the activity was opened by Mr. Martin Klaucke, Head of Operations - Section II, Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Mrs. Ivana Antonijevi?, assistant minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Youth in Serbia, Dr. Ledia Lazeri, Regional Advisor for mental health at the World Health Organization and Mrs. Andreea Scrio?teanu, member of the Board of the European Youth Forum.