Indian Youth and Their Mental Health Post Covid-19

While releasing UNICEF's "the state of the world's children 2021; On My Mind : promoting, protecting and caring for children's mealth health" Health Minister of India noted that mental health issues in developing countries like India is on rise.

• It is UNICEF's flagship report with most comprehensive analysis of global trends affecting children.
• 1st published in 1980 when 10% of children born died from preventable causes that year.
• Examines key issue affecting children –

• Children with disabilities
• Children in conflict & war
• Child labour
• Urbanisation
• Early childhood development

• The topics & recommendations provided by the report guides UNICEF's in designing, calibrating implementing the programmes effectively in countries.
• Also examines adolescent and caregivers mental health.
• News of deaths, social alienation (in isolation), fear leads to indicative mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress, disorder, depression & suicide.
• Around 14% of people of age group 15 to 24 in India i.e. 1 and 7 reported often feeling depressed.
• Only 41% of young people in India believed to seek support for mental health problems compared to an average of 83% across 21 countries surveyed.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concern about increase in stress and anxiety among and adolescents and mental health of caregiver's especially young mothers.
• Focuses on risks and protective factors at critical moments in the life course and delves into the social determinants that shape mental health & well-being.
• Calls for commitment, communication and action as a part of a comprehensive approach to promote good mental health for every child, protect vulnerable children & care for children facing the greatest challenges.
• Teachers, parents and family are important stakeholders for addressing mental health issues by open consultation with children with a position of mutual trust & respect.
• United Nation Children's Emergency Fund abbreviated as UNICEF is a United Nations Agency created in 1946 to bring emergency food & health care to children and mothers in countries devastated by WWII. It is one among most recognizable social welfare organization at world level responsible for providing humanitarian & developmental aid to children worldwide. It is headquartered at New York with over 190 countries as its member. The mission of UNICEF is the world has changed, but children's need have not.
• The area of work of UNICEF includes –

1. Child health & nutrition
2. Safe water & sanitation
3. Quality education
4. Skill building
5. HIV prevention & treatment for mothers & babies
6. Protection of children & adolescents from violence & exploitation

• Recently/post covid-19 world it has become world's largest provider of vaccines.