The State of the World's Children 2021
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…, Uncertainty. Loneliness. Grief. These powerful emotions have enveloped the lives of many millions of children, young people and families. Children and young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come. Young boys wearing masks are playing a game of carrom. Ramjan (12), who came to the city…, The high cost of low investment, Despite all this, governments and societies are investing far too little in promoting, protecting and caring for the mental health of children, young people and their caregivers. We pay a high economic price for this neglect – around US$387.2 billion worth of lost human potential that could go towards national economies each year. The cost in…, Unheard calls for help, Young mental health advocates have not been standing by in silence. Many have been bravely calling for mental health to be addressed in different contexts around the world. In the State of the World’s Children 2021 , some have spoken out about their lived experiences with mental health and well-being, the challenges their friends and peers face,…, Understanding mental health: Breaking barriers, Our inability to address mental health can be measured by how little societies are willing to talk about or understand it. The fear of harsh words, laughter and abuse that underline the stigma around mental health make it harder for children, adolescents and caregivers to express their feelings. “With stress and mental illness, for many it’s a…, Youth perspectives on mental health, Adolescence is a time of strong feelings, when young people can feel overwhelmed, sad, isolated, or stressed. To better understand this time, we asked hundreds of young people in 13 different countries to talk to us about their greatest emotional and behavioural challenges. How do adolescents experience and perceive mental health? Read the report…, It’s time for leadership, UNICEF calls for commitment, communication and action to promote good mental health for every child, protect vulnerable children and care for children facing the greatest challenges. Commitment means strengthening leadership to set the sights of a diverse range of partners and stakeholders on clear goals and ensuring investment in solutions and…, What UNICEF is doing, UNICEF works to help safeguard the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children, adolescents, parents and caregivers in some of the world’s most challenging settings. We have also worked to address the global impact of the pandemic on mental health. A teacher talks to a boy in a classroom Rawan Nabulsi, 21, who had to leave her home in…, ON MY MIND T H E S TAT E O F T H E W O R L D S C H I L D R E N 2 0 2 1 Promoting, protecting and caring for childrens mental health Published by UNICEF since 1980, The State of the Worlds Children report seeks to deepen knowledge and raise awareness of key issues affecting children and advocates for solutions that improve childrens lives.…
