One In Six Young Nigerians Depressed, Worried-UNICEF
A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Children Emergency Fund has revealed that one in six Nigerians aged 16 to 24 are facing mental health challenge. The global body added that the survey revealed that Nigerian children and young people were among the most pressured to succeed globally. According to UNICEF, as much as 85 per cent of those surveyed said they feel a great pressure to succeed than their elders, making Nigeria the highest of all 21 countries surveyed, with young people in Lebanon as a close second. The survey titled, ‘The Changing Childhood Project,’ was conducted among 21,000 people in 21 countries, including Nigeria. Apart from mental health challenges, the survey also examined opinions of young people regarding their worldview, trust in institutions, the importance of equality, climate change, digital benefits and risks, finances amongst other issues. Commenting on the outcome of the survey, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins, noted that concerns of children and young Nigerians should be taken into proper consideration. He said, “Children and young people in Nigeria clearly have a high level of concern about many and varied issues, compared to their peers in other countries. “We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope these concerns will go away – we need to take action. And the first step is to solicit their views, really listen closely and allow their concerns and ideas to influence our policy decisions. “The future of Nigeria belongs to its children and young people – they have the right to be heard, have their needs addressed and their solutions explored. It is only through commitment to understanding and investing more in our children and young people’s presents and futures that we can maximise every child’s potential and ensure they have a full and happy life.” Meanwhile, Senior Partner at Gallup, Joe Daly, added that it was essential for the voices of children and young Nigerians to be heard stating that the survey had helped to know what is on their minds. “We cannot know what is on the minds of young people if we do not ask them. UNICEF’s survey reinforces the importance of hearing from the next generation and understanding their perspectives,” he said.
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