Mental health disorders among young Greeks are rising at an alarming rate, with one in four children and adolescents aged 15-19 living with a mental health condition, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In an interview with the Athens News Agency, Dr. Joao Breda, head of WHO’s Office of Quality Care and Patient Safety in Athens, said Greece is facing some of the highest rates while emphasizing the urgent need to improve access to high-quality mental health services for young people.
Across Europe, one in five children and adolescents aged 15-19 reportedly suffers from a mental health condition, according to WHO, with the numbers steadily rising.
Breda says suicide is now the leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 in the WHO European Region. “The data are alarming,” he said citing a forthcoming WHO report based on data collected over the past decade.
In Greece, the number of suicides of all ages rose to 469 in 2023, up from 451 in 2022, according to Klimaka-Center for Suicide Prevention, an Athens-based NGO. However, mental health professionals say that underreporting an the lack of a national tracking system may hide the true scale of the problem. Greece has one of the lowest suicide rates in the European Union -about five to six deaths per 100,000 residents.
Dr. Breda cited various reasons that lead to the deterioration of the mental health among young people, such as climate change, geopolitical instability and uncontrolled digital environments.
“We are faced with a two-fold problem,” he told the Athens News Agency. “Young people are experiencing increased and often unprecedented pressures, while the mental health system is failing to respond with quality care that is accessible and adapted to their needs.”
Antonios Dakanalis, a psychiatry professor, told To Vima International Edition that “an entire generation is growing up with the motto: if it’s not worth sharing, it’s not worth anything at all” and warned that social media “likes,” especially among teens, have been influencing self-worth and behavior.
Danakalis also cited studies, according to which social media use is especially damaging to mentally vulnerable girls, and is linked to social dysfunction and depression. He also warned that extended exposure has also been linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), delayed language development and metabolic disorders.
In December, the Greek government presented its long-awaited national strategy aiming to protect minors from internet addiction and social media overexposure while earlier this month it launched “Kids Wallet,” a state-developed mobile phone application that allows parents to monitor their children’s screen time and verify their age on digital platforms and social networks.
A study featured in PLOS Mental Healthin 2024 analyzed past research using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore how different parts of the brain work together in individuals grappling with internet addiction.
The findings revealed noticeable effects across various neural networks in the brains of young individuals. Additionally, heightened brain activity was observed in certain areas when participants were at rest.
The study found that these alterations in brain function contributed to addictive behaviors and inclinations among adolescents. These changes also correlated with shifts in behavior associated with mental health, cognitive development, intellectual capacity, and physical coordination.
