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The EU is facing a deepening youth mental health crisis

Saturday, 12 April 2025 10:52 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 12 April 2025 10:52 AM ]

Homeless EU

The EU's youth mental health crisis is deepening. A debate at the European Parliament has revealed that 20%, which amounts to 14 million young people, are now struggling with psychological issues.

14 million young persons in EU have poor mental health

14 million youths in EU have poor mental health

The EU’s youth mental health crisis is deepening with EU governments and institutions standing accused of neglecting the problem.

EU governments and institutions stand accused of neglecting the problem.

Certainly disrespectful to the young people and their families who are losing their lives on a daily basis because we don't get things right.

Maria Walsh, Irish MEP

It is claimed that the European Commission's €1.2 billion mental health strategy, launched in 2023, has failed to make a meaningful impact.

In my home country, the Netherlands, the mental health care system has waiting periods of six months or longer before a child gets help. Even in the urgent cases.

Jessika Van Leeuwen, Dutch MEP

8 million young adults in EU unemployed and not in training

8 million young adults in EU unemployed and not in training

Youth affairs ministers discuss a growing crisis facing young adults living in the 27-nation EU.

Young European adults face mounting pressure as they struggle to find quality jobs and affordable housing. Teenagers, meanwhile, are being exposed to cyber bullying, hate speech and inappropriate content on social media platforms.

We have many suicide cases so it's really an issue here. And the free healthcare is not really a good system.

And I really wish we could improve the system in general, because younger people really need help.

EU Member of Public 01

There are many services, but I don't think they're good. They're not very good.

EU Member of Public 02

Something that could help a lot [would be] to have therapy and everything, so support with that, or support at the hospitals and financing, financing research and everything, I feel like it could help quite a bit, yeah.

EU Member of Public 03

EU accused of prioritizing war over citizens' needs

EU accused of prioritizing war over citizens' needs

Lawmakers and campaigners accuse European Union leaders of prioritizing military spending over the pressing needs of their citizens.

Critics argue that EU leaders are more focused on funding wars than caring for their citizens.

Others point to alcohol, drug abuse and what they call the ultra liberal agenda, as key contributors to the crisis.

The so called progressive ideology that is spreading like a plague, telling young kids that they can change their sex as they wish, that there are more than two genders.

This ideology is destroying families.

Milan Mazurek, Slovakian MEP

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in the bloc among 16 to 24 year olds, after road accidents.

Underfunded youth mental health services, long waiting lists and empty political promises, are failing the European Union's next generation, according to experts.

Europeans face major mental health issues