CHILDREN constitute around 45 per cent of the Pakistani population, with 22.7pc adolescents from 10 to 19 years. Along with their educational, safety and physical health needs, there is also an urgent need to prevent and respond to their mental health challenges. The WHO estimates that 15pc of the global burden of disease among 10-to19-year-olds is due to mental disorders. Globally, one out of seven children in this age group experiences some form of mental illness, the common ones being depression, anxiety and/or a behavioural disorder.

Death by suicide is also of grave concern, with WHO data estimating suicide to be the third leading cause of death among 15-to 29-year-olds; 289 child and adolescent suicide reports in Pakistan were documented between 2019 and 2020 as per a recent data analysis, which found that almost an equal number of boys and girls died by suicide, especially in late adolescence.

While all Pakistani children aren’t in school, schools can still play a critical role in promoting well-being, and in preventing and responding to mental health challenges including violence, bullying, suicide and self-harm behaviour. Schools can also be spaces of normalcy and safety for children living in........

© Dawn