Declining family support, growing pressure at school: WHO warns of adolescent difficulties

Adolescents in Europe, Canada and Central Asia experience more stress at school and less support at home, according to a recent report from WHO Europe.

Family support for teenagers dropped from 73% in 2018 to 67% in 2022with a sharper drop for girls, from 72% to 64%.

at the same time, the pressure of the school increased63% of 15-year-old girls reported stress from schoolwork, up from 54% in 2018. For boys, this indicator increased from 40% to 43%.

GENDER DIFFERENCE AND CHALLENGES

The report highlights the unique challenges faced by teenagers, especially girls. “Girls are often caught between competing expectations of academic success and traditional social roles,” said Irene Garca-Moya, one of the report’s authors.

Boys, on the other hand, face societal pressure to appear self-sufficient, which often prevents them from seeking help.

Peer support also decreased, falling from 61% to 58%, with girls again experiencing the biggest drop from 67% to 62%.

The European WHO warns that such trends may occur long-term consequences for adolescent mental health and life prospects.

CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

To overcome these challenges, WHO Europe is calling on governments and schools to take action. Recommendations include reducing class sizes, integrating social-emotional learning into curricula, and a balanced homework policy.

Schools should also implement mentoring programs and ensure regular check-ins between students and teachers.

Governments are encouraged to financially support low-income families and invest in parenting programs, particularly to help parents cope with the pressures faced by teenage girls.

Surveying nearly 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 in 44 countries, the report is a disturbing call to action to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for teenagers.

(According to AFP)