For many young people, saying “I am not okay” can be harder than dealing with the problem itself. Fear of being judged, laughed at, misunderstood or labelled “weak” can prevent young people from seeking the help they need. Mental health is often treated as a private matter that should be hidden rather than a normal part of human well-being.
“From Stigma to Support”
But the conversation is changing. Increasingly, young people, schools, families, communities and organisations are recognizing that mental health deserves the same attention as physical health. The challenge now is to turn awareness into meaningful support.
A growing concern among young people
Mental health is an important part of adolescent development. The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven young people aged 10–19 globally experiences a mental health condition. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. These challenges can affect education, relationships, confidence and a young person’s ability to participate fully in society. When problems are ignored or left untreated, their effects can continue into adulthood. Yet the numbers tell only part of the story. Behind the statistics are young people who may sit silently in classrooms, withdraw from friends, struggle to concentrate, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed or constantly worry about their future.
Some young people fear being called “crazy,” “weak,” “dramatic” or attention-seeking. Others worry that friends, parents or teachers will not understand them. UNICEF notes that stigma and fear of judgement can make it harder for children and adolescents to express their feelings and seek support. This means that a young person experiencing anxiety or depression may choose silence instead of support.
Stigma can also appear in everyday language. Statements such as “You worry too much,” “Just be strong,” or “Other people have bigger problems” may seem harmless, but they can discourage someone from opening up.
Instead, we can ask: “How are you really feeling?” “What can I do to support you?” or “Would you like someone to talk to? “Sometimes, a supportive conversation is the first step toward getting professional help.
Young people are already showing us the way
Recommendations: Moving from stigma to support
To create a healthier environment for young people’s mental health, several actions are important:
- Normalize conversations about mental health. Mental health should be discussed as part of ordinary health and well-being rather than as something shameful.
- Listen without judgement. Young people need adults and peers who will hear them before criticizing or dismissing them.
- Strengthen school-based support. Schools should provide accessible counselling, referral systems and mental-health education.
- Train teachers and youth leaders. They should be able to recognize signs of distress and know when and where to refer a young person for professional assistance.
- Promote peer support. Young people can be powerful advocates and sources of encouragement for their peers when properly trained and supported.
- Use technology responsibly. Digital platforms can provide information, connection and support, but they should complement not replace professional care where it is needed.
- Make services youth-friendly and confidential. Fear of exposure can prevent young people from seeking assistance.
- Include young people in decision-making. UNICEF emphasizes meaningful youth participation in the design and implementation of mental-health programmes and services.
- Increase community awareness. Parents, religious and community leaders, teachers and youth organisations can all help challenge harmful myths about mental illness.
- Encourage early help-seeking. Seeking professional support should be presented as an act of courage and self-care, not weakness.
A conversation can change a life
The journey from stigma to support does not require one dramatic solution. It can begin with a simple conversation. Instead of asking a struggling young person, “What is wrong with you?”, we can ask, “What is happening, and how can I support you?”
Instead of laughing at someone who says they are struggling, we can listen. Instead of telling young people to “just be strong,” we can remind them that asking for help is also a form of strength.
Mental health challenges among young people are real, but so are the opportunities to prevent suffering, build resilience and create supportive communities. WHO emphasizes the importance of protecting adolescents from adversity, promoting social and emotional skills, and ensuring access to appropriate mental-health care.
The future of youth mental health depends not only on hospitals and professionals. It also depends on families that listen, schools that care, communities that understand and young people who feel safe enough to speak.
Breaking stigma starts with changing the way we talk. Changing the way, we talk can change the way we respond. And changing the way we respond can give young people something they desperately need: a reason to believe that they do not have to struggle alone.
The author is the Projects and Program Manager at the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC)
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