YOUTH

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the mental health of adolescents and young people such as psychological instability and the disruption of social ties, especially during the lockdown. In this particular context, UNFPA Tunisia, in partnership with the Tunisian rehabilitation institute NEBRAS, took the initiative to set up a psychological support project for the benefit of young people affected by COVID -19 for a portion of age ranging from 13 to 35 years old. Thus, a hotline was launched, followed by a large communication and promotion campaign through social networks, national, regional, web and associative radios, television, the written and electronic press, thus allowing a wide distribution of information to ensure better accessibility to the confidential and free psychological support service.

339 calls from different regions of Tunisia were received through the line (63% are female and 37% are male). Among the symptoms detected in young people linked to COVID 19, it was noted a feeling of loneliness, boredom, fear, frustration, symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, a lack of concentration and motivation, social withdrawal, burn-out, school bullying, sexual harassment, sleep and eating disorders as well as school failure.

The sources of the discomfort noted are linked mainly to the COVID-19 crisis and include unemployment, the death of a family member, financial worries, relationship conflicts, disruption of the educational rhythm, academic failure, parental and domestic violence.

The hotline continues to operate until the end of the year and advocacy to ensure better care for the mental health of adolescents and young people will be provided as part of the implementation of the national strategy for the promotion of adolescent and youth health 2020-2030 developed by the Ministry of Health with the support of UNFPA in Tunisia.