By Thomas Nsowah-Adjei, Ashanti Region.
Mental health issues among children between the ages of 10 and 19 are said to be on the rise, particularly in Junior and Senior High Schools.
According to a research, 25 percent of the youth suffer from one form of mental disorder or the other, while 1 out of 4 school children also attempt committing suicide.
A Lecturer at the Psychology Department, University of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Darkwah, who disclosed this in an interview with GBC News in Kumasi, called for concerted effort at tackling Mental Health concerns.
Reports of attempted suicide among children between 10 and 19 years in educational institutions have become a growing concern.
Reasons assigned to this unfortunate act are not far-fetched. One of them is said to be poverty among parents particularly in the lower and middle income countries.
This situation is believed to be compounded by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Darkwah advised teachers to help address the challenge on campuses.
He said, “reports indicate that parents are finding it difficult to meet the demands of their children, even with the introduction of the Free Senior High School program.”
To help fight this abominable act in schools, the Psychologist said, “there is the need for the Guidance and Counselling Unit to intensify efforts at educating the children against this act.”
