More boys have a hard time staying focused, while anxiety and loneliness is higher among girls as parental attention dips, says a WHO report
At least 25 per cent of adolescents in India are bearing the brunt of depression, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report revealed on Thursday.
Adolescents (13-15 years), who constitute around 5.8 per cent of the total population in India, feel sad and hopeless almost every day. Around 10 per cent of them are distracted and have a hard time staying focused on their homework and usual work most of the times or always.
Boys are more depressed and distracted compared to girls, the WHO report titled Mental Health Status of Adolescents in South-East Asia, 2017, stated.
While eight per cent suffer from anxiety, (they could not sleep because of being worried and felt lonely most of times or always) around 10 per cent have no close friends. Anxiety and loneliness is higher among girls.
According to the report, parental engagement with adolescents has been found to be low in India with less than half of the parents (47 per cent) caring to check if their homework was done or not.
"A high proportion of adolescents reported low level of parental engagement in the region. Public policies, youth programmes and schools should involve parents and emphasise the need to better engage with their adolescent children in meaningful ways," the report stated.
Though depression affects all demographic groups, it is more commonly experienced by adolescents and young adults. The illness often manifests itself as disturbed sleep or loss of appetite, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, or feelings of tiredness and lethargy.
It may also manifest as agitation or physical restlessness, substance dependance, reduced concentration and suicidal thoughts or acts. Depression can also lead to suicide, which is the second highest cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds.
"We may help them with everyday tasks, encourage eating and sleeping patterns, and join them for an exercise session such as yoga. If they are thinking about self-harm, we can seek professional medical help and stay by their side when they need our love and support most," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.
"An increasing number of nuclear families has children paying the price. Children in nuclear families are less cared for and thus they have lesser bonding with their parents," said Dr Anjan Prakash, consultant, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
SURVEY SAYS
25 per cent: Felt so sad/hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row
10 per cent: Had a hard time staying focused on their homework and usual work most of times
8 per cent: Suffered from anxiety and could not sleep because of being worried
8 per cent: Felt lonely most of times or always
10 per cent: Had no close friends
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 "Depression")
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