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Newdelhi:5/10/21;Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today released UNICEF’s global flagship publication – “The State of the World’s Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health in New Delhi today.
The report details the significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.
Describing significance of the report which focuses on mental health, Mr Mandaviya said that Mental Health is both an old issue and an emerging issue.
He highlighted that “COVID-19 was a test of mental stress for the entire society.
He recounted his personal experience as the Pharmaceuticals Minister during the second surge of COVID19.
He added that Yoga, deep breathing and cycling helped him to overcome the stress.
The Minister acknowledged that it is very vital to address mental health as an important aspect for creating a healthy society. He noted that teachers are very important stakeholders for addressing mental health issues along with parents and family.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan noted that Mental Health and Physical Health are two sides of the same coin. He underscored the prevalence of societal stigma associated with mental health issues. He also highlighted the lack of full-time student-counsellors in several reputed schools.
UNICEF India Representative Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque presented some key findings of the report.
As per the report, around 14 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds in India, or 1 in 7 of them , reported often feeling depressed or having little interest in doing things.
