RP Children and Youth Council: Psychoeducation is lacking in schools. There is too little access to psychological help

- We have an instruction manual on how to deal with a cardiac arrest, we have instructions on how to change a wheel in a car. However, the public space still lacks instructions on what to do at the first signs of a mental health crisis," Aleksandra Horoszko, chairwoman of the Council of Children and Youth of the Republic of Poland, said at a press briefing after the session.

As the authors of the report in question note, according to UNICEF, 1 in 7 children and adolescents around the world face mental disorders. In Poland, the situation is no better. More and more children and adolescents are experiencing depression, anxiety, eating disorders or addictions. Neglecting the mental health of young people can lead to serious consequences, such as learning difficulties, behavioral problems and even suicide attempts.

As Marzena Machałek, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, acknowledged, the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for developmental and psychological problems in children and adolescents.

- In the last three years we have recorded a doubled number of suicide attempts compared to what was happening before the pandemic. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that 18 percent of children under the age of 6 provide developmental problems. In contrast, we know from studies by the Supreme Audit Office, even before the pandemic, that 9 percent experience mental disorders that require specialized support [from a sychiatrist or psychotherapist. Young people are aware that the problems they are experiencing today are influenced by civilization and relationship problems," the Deputy Minister of Education and Science pointed out.

As part of a nationwide consultation conducted by the Council of Children and Youth of the Republic of Poland under the Minister of Education and Science, several thousand Polish schoolchildren were surveyed and asked about issues of mental health promotion and care, psychoeducation, as well as the availability and quality of assistance provided by school psychologists. It turned out that there are still many myths and stereotypes about mental health in society. Lack of public awareness can lead to stigmatization and discrimination against people with mental disorders. At the same time, there is a shortage of specialists dealing with the mental health of children and adolescents on the market, which hinders effective treatment of mental disorders.

- We met not to complain and to say how bad it is, because we know it very well. We know the scary statistics and personal stories. We know the myths that depression is not a disease at all, but a fad. We met to develop ideas and take concrete action across divides. Mental health cannot be a political topic. It's a topic that affects us all and requires cooperation," stressed Alexandra Horoszko.

The authors of the report on the mental health of children and adolescents noted that, first and foremost, the availability of specialized psychological and psychiatric assistance should be increased. This requires increasing the number of specialists and changing the approach to financing therapy. Poland lacks an adequate number of psychologists, especially in smaller towns and villages. In order to increase their number, it is necessary to encourage the study of psychology, as well as to provide attractive working conditions. It is also crucial to improve mental health awareness in schools. They should introduce psychoeducation on mental health into the curricula, which will increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues among children and adolescents.