The mental health of the young people of Hego Euskal Herria is in a "worrying" situation, according to a report prepared by the digital portal Gurea Geroa. According to the survey, half of the young people suffer from emotional distress and nearly six in ten people have had suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives.
The survey was conducted among young people between 16 and 30 years of age between May and August. In total, responses have been received from some 3,700 young people from Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia, Álava and Navarra, among others. In it, they have pointed out that the consumption of anti-depression and anxiolytics has increased considerably and that, in addition, many of them are used without medical prescription.
As explained, the study analyzes the degree of happiness of young people, their sadness, their suicidal thoughts and the perceptions of social relationships. In this sense, they have pointed out that the results obtained have given rise to "orange and red alarms" in mental health. These data were presented in the Basque Parliament on 27 November last, and the report also contains recommendations on mental health.
The main causes of youth distress include difficulties in social and friendly relations (28 per cent), problems in finding decent work (22 per cent), identity situations (20 per cent) and emancipation problems (18 per cent). On the other hand, 86% of respondents acknowledge having lived an undesired loneliness life, in which they have actively participated.
In view of the serious mental health problems, respondents call for special attention to suicide prevention and psychological care. Six out of ten young people have suffered some form of suicide or suicidal thoughts, and consumption of anxiolytics and antidepressant medicines has increased considerably; in addition, many of them use them without a prescription.
The report makes a number of concrete recommendations for improving the situation. Among other initiatives, they have proposed promoting universal psychological care, developing free public services and promoting mental health education. “The survey is an invitation to the development of new public policies,” summarized one of the researchers.