Stress and anxiety are widespread among young people in Cyprus, yet a significant number are not seeking the help they need, a new national report from the Ministry of Health and UNICEF reveals.
The study, coordinated and run by CARDET with the support of the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Cyprus Youth Council, amplifies the voices of youth alongside those of parents, educators, and mental health professionals, pointing to an urgent need for more youth-friendly, accessible, and stigma-free services, a press release says.
Key findings
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86% of youth report high levels of anxiety and uncertainty about the future, while 75% feel constant pressure and stress. Although 60% of young people felt they needed to visit a mental health professional, fewer than half (43%) actually did so. The reasons cited include stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access.
The majority of mental health disorders (75%) appear before the age of 25, underscoring the urgency of early support, the report shows.
Referrals to psychologists in schools increased significantly, with more than 7,700 students referred in 2020-2021.
The study identified four key barriers to accessing mental health care, namely stigma and prejudice, lack of youth-friendly, welcoming spaces, low awareness of services and unequal access, especially in rural areas.
One participant summarized the issue, the report reveals: ‘We don’t always know where to go for help. And even when services exist, they don’t always feel like they are for us’.
A call for action
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The report calls for a shift towards prevention and early intervention, with a strong emphasis on engaging young people in shaping the services they use. These recommendations will inform the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan being developed by the Ministry of Health, the press release by CARDET says.
‘These findings are a wake-up call’, said Alexandros Tifas, a Mental Health Nursing Officer of the Ministry of Health.
‘Behind the numbers are young people who deserve compassion, understanding, and access to support when they need it. By turning their voices into action, we can create services that truly respond to their needs and build a society where mental health is a shared priority’, he noted.