Pandemic and Earthquakes Take Toll on Young Croatians’ Mental Health

Boris Jokic from the Institute for Social Research told a panel discussion at the Journalists' House in Zagreb on Friday that the coronavirus pandemic and the large-scale earthquakes that hit Croatia in 2020 strengthened school pupils' relationships with their family and friends but negatively affected their mental health.

"Positive effects were recorded on family and friendship relationships among children in elementary and high schools, but they had a negative impact on the mental health of students, especially girls, so the system should address the mental health of young people," Jokic said in his introductory presentation.

Almost 44,000 children participated in the research, conducted over two years in 167 elementary and high schools in Croatia.

Girls were particularly affected by the pandemic because school represents a structure and a place where they can achieve their goals, but studies of women of all ages have shown that the pandemic harmed women more than men, Jokic explained.

The negative impact of the pandemic on mental health was noted in the survey by almost half of the girls surveyed. For boys, a negative impact was noted in 25 per cent fewer cases.

"There were certain deficits in their mental health, which were later compensated for by most of them, but there are also those who still need the help of the entire community," Jokic added.

The panel discussion, 'Mental Health of the Family', was organised by Croatia's Central State Office for Demography and Youth, and focused on the mental health of children, young people, students and mothers who are experiencing postpartum depression.

"You can often hear comments that poor mental health is not a big problem for teenagers, that they just have mood...