15:04 29 March 2025
EU to Develop Mental Health Strategy for Youth
The European Union plans to create a strategy addressing the mental health of young people, as cyberbullying and screen addiction continue to rise. Nearly half of teenagers have faced online violence, with one in four experiencing verbal abuse and one in five being mocked, according to the NASK report "Nastolatki 3.0".
During an informal EPSCO Health Council meeting on March 25, EU health ministers discussed how to protect children’s mental well-being in the digital age. Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Health, stressed the urgency.
“Over 22 percent of young people spend an average of 4 hours daily on screens, often exposed to online harassment,” he said.
Research from the WHO’s Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) project shows that one in six teenagers globally has experienced cyberbullying, with rates significantly higher in Poland, where one in five children is affected.
(Newseria)
