Adolescence mental health
Improved adolescent and youth wellbeing through the adolescent mental health programme and expansion of access to youth-friendly health services
The challenges
By 2015, only 4,000 people under 25 had been registered by health authorities with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or sexually transmitted infections. Demographically 58% of the Tajik population is under 25 meaning that under 0.1 % young people are registered with health vulnerabilities. This reflects a very significant under-utilization of health services, and also reflects sub-optimal data collection and recording for this age-group.
Adolescents also have limited access to health services, and the health services that are available to adolescents are mostly not adapted to their needs. In particular, mental health and psychosocial services are limited and underdeveloped in the country.
The need for mental health and psychological services in Tajikistan was highlighted by a study on suicide, commissioned by UNICEF in 2012.
In 2009-2010, the suicide rate in Sughd region was estimated at 11.2 cases per 100,000 young people aged 12- 24 (11.7 for females and 10.6 for males). This means that, unusually by global standards, the female suicide rate in this age group is significantly higher than that of males.
Working with adolescents and tapping into their potential, as well as providing them with opportunities to develop, participate and thrive, will contribute to development and the maintenance of peace and stability in Tajikistan.
The solution
Adolescents require coping mechanisms to deal effectively with stress and adversity; know how to communicate constructively; challenge violence and conflict internally and in relation to others; and recognize the value of diversity and inclusion. In this context, Building on UNICEF-supported best practice in adolescent-friendly health services, the Ministries of Education and Health are now jointly developing national mental health programming for adolescent girls and boys.
To enable the provision of mental health services to adolescents, UNICEF is building the capacity of psychologists and counsellors, and supporting the provision of peer-to-peer support, in schools and the health system, to enable provision of mental health services to adolescents.
By using technology (e-platform) to reach out to a larger group of young people through up-to-date youth-friendly tools, and to provide confidential counselling and mental health support. This type of intervention has the benefit of providing timely counselling using different modalities to support adolescents to make healthy choices and thrive with good mental health, as well as to prevent depression and thoughts of suicide or harm to the self or others.
The services supported by UNICEF will cater to the diverse needs of girls and boys by ensuring the availability of role models and health workers of both sexes and a diverse range of confidential services.
Moreover, mental health services will complement the ongoing expansion of youth-friendly health services in the country, and psychological counselling and peer-to-peer support systems will be part of these services.
