Youth mental health - Analysis of policies and prevention programs

Zdravlje je jedna od ključnih odrednica kvalitete života, a sastavni dio zdravlja svakog pojedinca je i mentalno zdravlje. Zadnjih godina je posebno zabrinjavajući porast problema mentalnog zdravlja među mladima sa sve većom prevalencijom obolijevanja od mentalnih poremećaja, pri čemu suicid predstavlja drugi glavni uzrok smrti kod mladih u svijetu, a većina odraslih s mentalnim poremećajima i poteškoćama su prve simptome imali u djetinjstvu i mladosti. Narušeno mentalno zdravlje je povezano sa širokim spektrom štetnih posljedica i za pojedinca, njegovu bližu okolinu, ali i za društvo i državu u cjelini, te je zato prepoznato kao jedno od ključnih briga i fokusa javnih zdravstvenih politika na globalnoj, a tako i na razini EU i RH. Kako bi se kreirale i implementirale uspješne i učinkovite mjere i aktivnosti na području zaštite mentalnog zdravlja razumjeti složenost ovog problema te mu pristupati strateški-sistematično, integrirano i kontinuirano. U tu svrhu je potrebno steći dublji uvid u sam koncept mentalnog zdravlja te će se s tim ciljem u ovom radu prikazati određenje koncepta i teorijski pristupi mentalnom zdravlju mladih. Nakon toga slijedi prikaz elemenata zaštite mentalnog zdravlja mladih, uz naglasak na specifičnosti razvojne faze, ali i novonastalih društvenih procesa i okolnosti. Potom će biti navedeni najčešći poremećaji mentalnog zdravlja mladih te rizični i zaštitni čimbenici. Zadnji dio rada se odnosi na politički i strateški okvir zaštite mentalnog zdravlja na razini EU i RH. Unutar tog poglavlja predstavit će se ključne organizacije, programi i projekti. Na samom kraju će se analizirati trenutno stanje koje uključuje i osvrt na nedostatke i izazove, ali i prednosti te daljnje preporuke usmjerene ka strateškom planiranju koje se usmjerava na suradnju i integriranost pristupa, dionika i mjera.Health is one of the key determinants of quality of life, and mental health is an integral part of health. In recent years, the rise of mental health problems among young people has been particularly worrying, with suicide being the second leading cause of death in young people, and most adults with mental disorders and difficulties have experienced the first symptoms in childhood and adolescence. Mental health impairment can lead to adverse consequences for the individual, their immediate environment, as well as for society and the country as a whole so it has become one of the main focuses of public health policies at the global as well as at EU and Croatian levels. In order to create and implement successful and effective measures and activities in the field of youth mental health care, it is necessary to understand the complexity of the concept of mental health. Due to the stated complexity strategic approach needs to be: systematical, comprehensive, integrated and continuous. For this purpose, it is necessary to gain a deeper insight into the concept itself. Firstly, this paper will define the concept and theoretical approaches to mental health of young people. Second part is focused on indetifying elements of youth mental health protection, with an emphasis on the specifics of the developmental phase, but also on emerging social processes and circumstances. The most common mental health disorders, risk and protective factors will then be debated. The last part of the paper analyzes the political and strategic framework of protection mental health at EU and Croatian level. Within this chapter key organizations, programs and projects will be presented. At the end, current situation in Croatia will be analyzed through disadvantages and challenges, but also the benefits and further recommendations directed towards strategic planning that focuses on the cooperation and integration of approaches, stakeholders and measures