Mental health issues rise among youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

Health experts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are reporting a significant rise in mental health issues, particularly among young people. In Sarajevo, medical professionals have observed an increase in anxiety, stress-induced disorders, and depression, noting that these conditions are becoming more prevalent in individuals under 18 compared to older populations.

In Croatia, data indicates that mental disorders account for 30 percent of all disability causes. Experts warn that for every person receiving treatment, two others remain without help due to social stigma. There has been a noted increase in self-harm among girls aged 15 to 19 following the pandemic. While suicide rates have seen a slight decrease, they remain four times more frequent in men than in women.

To address these challenges, initiatives such as the PRISM project and the ‘Abeceda mentalnog zdravlja’ digital campaign are being launched to provide crisis intervention training for first responders and primary prevention education for youth.