Introduction
Mental health, often known as psychological well-being, is an important
component of an individual's ability to function and live a happy and satisfying life.
Interruptions in a person's mental health might have a negative impact on their
behavior and potentials that could result to reduction of psychological functioning as
well as greater socioeconomic welfare losses (WHO, 2012).
There are certain groups that may be more vulnerable to mental health issues
than others and among these are the adolescents. Adolescence is a critical time for
acquiring fundamental social and emotional behaviors for mental health. Hence,
during this period, children are more susceptible to mental health difficulties due to
physical, emotional, and social changes. It was reported that one out of every seven
teenagers suffers from mental illness in 2019 (UNICEF, 2021). This equates to 166
million adolescent males and girls worldwide (89 million boys and 77 million girls).
Moreover, WHO (2021) reported that anxiety disorders are the most common in this
age group, affecting 3.6 percent of 10-14-year-olds and 4.6 percent of 15-19-year-olds,
according to estimates, whilst depression affects 1.1 percent of 10-14-year-olds and 2.8
percent of 15-19-year-olds. They also reported that suicide is the fourth highest cause
of mortality among adolescents.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, findings indicate that these challenges are being
further exacerbated. According to a poll conducted by UNICEF, the COVID-19 crisis
is having a substantial impact on the mental health of Latin American and Caribbean
, adolescents and young people with 27% of the participants reported feeling anxious
and 15% reported feeling depressed within the seven days of September. Moreover,
Dr. Benjamin (2020) found that teens, in particular, may struggle to socially detach
themselves from their peer networks and may be emotionally and socially unprepared
to deal with the epidemic's uncertainty.
As a result, ensuring that adolescents are properly supported in all aspects of
life, including their mental health and well-being, is crucial for promoting their
transition to adulthood and establishing the groundwork for healthy and productive
adulthoods during this epidemic.
Rationale
The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) include any support
that people receive to protect or promote their mental health and psychosocial
wellbeing. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress,
relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life,
from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Meanwhile, psychosocial refers
to the psychological and social factors that influence mental health which include
influences from parents, family, peers, culture, religion, and other interpersonal
relationships.
Mental health, often known as psychological well-being, is an important
component of an individual's ability to function and live a happy and satisfying life.
Interruptions in a person's mental health might have a negative impact on their
behavior and potentials that could result to reduction of psychological functioning as
well as greater socioeconomic welfare losses (WHO, 2012).
There are certain groups that may be more vulnerable to mental health issues
than others and among these are the adolescents. Adolescence is a critical time for
acquiring fundamental social and emotional behaviors for mental health. Hence,
during this period, children are more susceptible to mental health difficulties due to
physical, emotional, and social changes. It was reported that one out of every seven
teenagers suffers from mental illness in 2019 (UNICEF, 2021). This equates to 166
million adolescent males and girls worldwide (89 million boys and 77 million girls).
Moreover, WHO (2021) reported that anxiety disorders are the most common in this
age group, affecting 3.6 percent of 10-14-year-olds and 4.6 percent of 15-19-year-olds,
according to estimates, whilst depression affects 1.1 percent of 10-14-year-olds and 2.8
percent of 15-19-year-olds. They also reported that suicide is the fourth highest cause
of mortality among adolescents.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, findings indicate that these challenges are being
further exacerbated. According to a poll conducted by UNICEF, the COVID-19 crisis
is having a substantial impact on the mental health of Latin American and Caribbean
, adolescents and young people with 27% of the participants reported feeling anxious
and 15% reported feeling depressed within the seven days of September. Moreover,
Dr. Benjamin (2020) found that teens, in particular, may struggle to socially detach
themselves from their peer networks and may be emotionally and socially unprepared
to deal with the epidemic's uncertainty.
As a result, ensuring that adolescents are properly supported in all aspects of
life, including their mental health and well-being, is crucial for promoting their
transition to adulthood and establishing the groundwork for healthy and productive
adulthoods during this epidemic.
Rationale
The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) include any support
that people receive to protect or promote their mental health and psychosocial
wellbeing. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress,
relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life,
from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Meanwhile, psychosocial refers
to the psychological and social factors that influence mental health which include
influences from parents, family, peers, culture, religion, and other interpersonal
relationships.
