GENEVA- Anxiety, depression, burnout, loneliness and trauma are among the mental health challenges young people raised in consultations with the UN Human Rights Office, which says these struggles can affect their rights to healthcare, education, decent work and social security.
The findings are detailed in an OHCHR report presented to the UN Human Rights Council.
It also lists self-harm and suicidal thoughts among the concerns raised by young people from different regions.
The report says young people’s mental health is shaped by more than access to medical care.
It points to poverty, inequality, discrimination, violence, conflict, displacement, poor living conditions, digital harms and a lack of social connection as factors that can contribute to distress.
Young people facing overlapping forms of discrimination are especially affected, it says.
Barriers to support
OHCHR identifies gaps in the availability, accessibility and quality of mental health services.
These include chronic underinvestment, a shortage of expertise and limited youth-friendly, community-based support.
The report says those barriers can prevent young people from getting care and undermine their ability to enjoy other rights.
It calls on governments to coordinate action across sectors, invest in accessible services and ensure continuity of care. Services should respect young people’s dignity, autonomy and informed consent.
The recommendations also urge governments to involve young people in designing and evaluating policies, collect data that shows which groups are being left behind, and strengthen accountability.
OHCHR calls for action against coercive practices and laws that criminalise suicide or attempted suicide.
UNICEF, responding to the report at the Human Rights Council, said unsupported mental health needs can affect children’s rights to health, education, an adequate standard of living and participation.
It also highlighted self-harm and suicidal thoughts as concerns raised across regions.
The UN Population Fund said young women may face added pressures linked to gender inequality and gender-based violence, including online abuse.
It also pointed to rigid gender expectations that can discourage young men from seeking help, and to discrimination affecting young people with disabilities, displaced youth and LGBTQ+ people.
Kenya’s position
During the same Human Rights Council session, Kenya’s delegation said access to health and meaningful participation in public affairs were important to advancing human rights.
Its statement addressed the broader reports before the Council and did not set out a Kenya-specific response to the youth mental health study.
The report was released ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10.
This year’s WHO campaign calls for people with lived experience of mental health conditions to help shape policies and services that affect them.
