Since 1999, when the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the idea, August 12 has been recognized as International Youth Day. This year, the day’s theme of "Youth and Mental Health" presented an opportunity to raise awareness of the many challenges that mental illness presents to young people throughout the world.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 280 million youths around the world struggle with some form of mental illness. To discuss this all-too-prevalent issue in depth, mental health professionals convened a forum in Lagos, Nigeria.
At the forum, Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire reiterated Nigeria's commitment to promoting awareness of mental health issues among the country’s youth. Boosting both the government’s and the private sector’s investment in mental health initiatives, she said, will help secure the well-being of the nation's future leaders.
Envera Selimovic, senior public information officer at the UN Information Centre in Lagos, added that stigmatization of mental illness remains a major challenge. To more effectively tackle the problem, social views on mental illness need to be reshaped.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 280 million youths around the world struggle with some form of mental illness. To discuss this all-too-prevalent issue in depth, mental health professionals convened a forum in Lagos, Nigeria.
At the forum, Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire reiterated Nigeria's commitment to promoting awareness of mental health issues among the country’s youth. Boosting both the government’s and the private sector’s investment in mental health initiatives, she said, will help secure the well-being of the nation's future leaders.
Envera Selimovic, senior public information officer at the UN Information Centre in Lagos, added that stigmatization of mental illness remains a major challenge. To more effectively tackle the problem, social views on mental illness need to be reshaped.