Albania Increases Mental Health Problems in Young People

In Albania, experts claim the number of youths with mental health problems is on the rise. Psychologists and psychiatrists say that the challenges of society as well as identity crises in many young people are being accompanied by stress and displays of mental health problems.

Increased cases of mental health problems among young people, according to experts, relate to the transformations that Albanian society itself is undergoing as well as to phenomena that appear in daily life as well as in young people.

Psychiatric doctor John Preci says that the confrontation of young people with the stresses of daily life, immigration, the use of narcotic substances, and in particular intensive social networking life, are leaving its effects on their mental health.

We have many young people who almost live virtual lives. They stay on social networks all night and sleep all day. A controversy with man's biological growth. And these are the people on whom we see constant stress. They're very vulnerable and very keen to develop a mental health problem, which starts with a simple stress on real psychoses”, he relates.

What is noteworthy, says Dr. Preci, is the growing case of youths returning from immigration with severe mental health problems.

The backwaters, perhaps even in prisons and under constant and physical stress, have been abused by alcohol and drugs, he relates.

For psychologist Fatjon Taipi, youth problems are related to the challenges society itself has. In the face of these challenges, youths try to create and reveal their identity, which is often accompanied by increased stress and mental - health issues.

Young people, being in a very confusing phase of creating their identity, often follow two paths. First, it's related to their personality data, which can create mental health disorders and, second, they're identified with social groups and activities, which are harmful to themselves, society, but ultimately there are also anti-legal”, he relates.

In Albania, according to INSTAT, in 2023, 10,472 crimes or 26.5 per cent of all crimes committed in Albania have been committed by the 18-29-year-old group. While in prison, 1758 young people of this age have completed, with an increase of 203 more than in 2022. These cases, experts say, are mostly associated with mental - health disorders.

The program “Access to support mental health for young people”, which applies to partners from France, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Cyprus, and Greece, shows that there are not rarely misunderstandings about mental health problems among young people, says programme co-ordinator Klodiana Serray.

In Albania it is still taboo to talk about mental health, because it is treated as a misunderstanding by the cliche, the society we grew up in. In fact, mental health is a normal disease, such as any other”.

Psychiatric doctor John Prechi is not difficult to diagnose mental health problems. But handling cases, he says, is difficult and lasting.

“The possibility is limited because of the situation, which is complex in our society. Access to family service from the suburbs, from remote areas, incapacitatement for movement, limited services in the area, etc. And that makes the problem very complex and with a bad perspective”.

According to U expert research NICEF to 20 percent of teenagers worldwide experience mental disorders and that three of four adult mental - health problems begin in childhood and adolescence”. / VOA