COPENHAGEN: Young people in Europe, Canada and Central Asia feel less family support and more school pressure than before, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday (November 14), urging countries to improve young people’s social environments.

WHO Europe stated that the proportion of adolescents reporting high levels of family support decreased from 73 percent in 2018 to 67 percent in 2022, and among girls, this decline was even more pronounced, from 72 percent to 64 percent.

It was also stated that young people are increasingly complaining about school pressure.

In 2022, almost two-thirds of 15-year-old girls, or 63 percent, said they felt pressured by schoolwork (up from 54 percent in 2018), while for boys the figure rose from 40 percent to 43 percent.

“Adolescents today face unprecedented challenges in their social environments, from reduced support at home to increased pressure at school, with potentially long-term consequences for their health and future life expectancy,” Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said in a statement. he said.

Young people who report high levels of family support — who are more likely to be in wealthier families — generally have better mental health than those who report limited or no support, the World Health Organization said.

The report also found that young people’s peer support has decreased, falling from 61 percent to 58 percent, with support falling hardest among girls, from 67 percent to 62 percent.

“Girls are often caught between expectations of academic excellence and competition between traditional social roles, while boys may face pressure to appear strong and confident, which can deter them from seeking necessary support,” said Irene García-Moya, one of the report’s authors. he said in the statement.

The WHO said action was needed to support young people, taking into account “significant gender inequalities”.

It was stated that school environments should be made more inclusive by reducing class sizes, implementing mentoring programs, and integrating social-emotional learning into the curriculum.

He added that schools need to combat rising stress levels through balanced homework policies, study skills support and regular student-teacher check-ins.

Governments should also implement targeted financial support for low-income families and invest in parenting programs that help parents support their children, especially teenage daughters.

The study, presented by WHO, surveyed nearly 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 in 44 countries in Europe, Canada and Central Asia.