EXPERTS URGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEEK HELP TO FIGHT MENTAL CHALLENGES

By Onzoma Albert

Arua City

Mental Health Experts and Youth Leaders are raising concerns about the rising mental health issues among youth, with over 90,000 cases reported among student in Kampala in a single year, in 2024-2025 reflecting a 12.2% increase from the previous year.

Experts attribute this surge to factors such as substance abuse namely alcoholism, marijuana, and khat—that serve as coping mechanisms and have been linked to increased school unrest.

Studies indicate that 34% of learners aged 14 to 17 experience moderate to severe depression, a figure considerably higher than the global average of 20-25%. The World Health Organization reports that one in seven adolescents worldwide faces a mental disorder.

Rev Fr Isaac Adroamabe, a clinical psychologist working with Muni University, emphasizes the importance of seeking professional counseling when overwhelmed, instead of resorting to drugs and substance abuse.

“The youths are very important to us in the church for government and even culturally, I want to encourage them to work very hard in order to alleviate poverty instead of resorting to smoking, drinking and seek for counselling services when overwhelmed in order to overcome the mental health issues” he said.

Hon Charity Ezuru, female youth councilor of Ayivu Division, advocates for open communication about mental health struggles, calling on community stakeholders to assist in addressing these challenges.

“We should create time for the adolescents, share our experiences and understand what is stressing them, let’s also encourage the young people to open up to share their challenges with us than them resorting to drug and substance abuse leading to mental health disorder which is very rampant among the youths in our communities” she said.

Henry Adukule, called on young people to open up about their challenges and urging youths to desist from drug and substance abuse to address mental health issues.

“Most of the youths now days right from home up to school tend to consume substances that disorganize their minds leading to mental health challenges, I want to encourage the youths to stop the issues of drug and substance abuse instead should focus on studies and work” he said.

The report identifies several contributing causes including, intense academic pressure, and excessive time on social media leading to anxiety and sleep problems, poverty, limited employment opportunities, and experiences of bullying or family violence. These factors heighten mental health risks, impair academic performance, and increase dropout rates.

Untreated mental health issues may lead youth towards dangerous behaviors, further compounding their struggles. If not addressed early, these problems can persist into adulthood, affecting personal success and well-being.

Additionally, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics reports that youth unemployment in the West Nile region stands around 16%, with nearly half of young people out of employment, education, or training.

This economic hardship exacerbates feelings of hopelessness and financial anxiety, further underscoring the urgent need for coordinated efforts to improve youth mental health and socioeconomic opportunities.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis