Telecast Statement bythe Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports on the occasion of International Youth Day 2014
Fellow Gambians, Fellow Young People, 12th August marks the commemoration of International Youth Day, which is observed globally each year. The commemoration aims at raising public awareness and mobilizing action in support of young people. Since its inception in 1998, it has been celebrated in diverse ways around the world to highlight the contributions of youths to their societies and the needs and plight of the young people in those societies as well.
This year’s observance focuses on “Youth and Mental Health” underthe slogan 'Mental Health Matters'.Young people constitute over 63% per cent of the Gambian population, yet too little is known about their mental health status and the psychosocial implications of their daily struggles and interactions.
According to WHO estimates, approximately 27,000 people in the Gambia are suffering from a severe mental and/or substance abuse disorder and that a further 91,000 have a mild disorder still requiring treatment (WHO 2004). A greater percentage of these victims are young people who suffer from drug induce psychosis. For example, about 40% of all diagnosis of the patient population at the Tanka Tanka Psychiatric hospital are young people. The causes of mental illness on them are numerous but to name a few, include drug misuse and abuse, effects of migration by any means, trauma and accidents, discriminations among many other factors.
The Governments zero tolerance on drugs remains a benchmark for our position in the fight against illegal and illicit drugs. Young people’s migration by any means continue to be challenge and we recognise the fact that if not curb, has both short term and long term implications on our collective socio economic development.
The transition to adulthood is an extremely challenging period of life in which young people are maturing physically, mentally and socially. It’s a critical time in which mental health issues can develop. We need greater knowledge about the reasons why mental health issues arise at this time, but most importantly what our individual roles are in promoting a mentally healthy youthful population.
Over the past decade, a new paradigm has emerged in the mental health field, which recognizes the importance of intervening early to maximize recovery. The youth mental health paradigm aims to change the way society thinks about the mental health of young people, and to transform and strengthen the mental health system.
The Government of the Gambia and partners will continue to support early diagnosis and interventions around prevention and response, and also support the mental health system to adequately respond to the mental health needs of the young people.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Within the 20 years of this Government under the guidance of HE the President, young people have been provided numerous opportunities to lead, grow and to realize their fullest potentials in all fields. The Government continues to champion the course of young people in every development endeavor. Young People recognize and appreciate the immeasurable and immense contribution of His Excellency the President in improving our socio economic situation as young people.
There is no gainsaying of the fact that youth play very important role in the development of any society and their guided meaningful engagement and involvement is critical in sustainable development. In fact every society is a reflection of the youth it was made up. Our qualities such as dynamism, energy, initiatives, etc, are generally recognized and must, at any time, be used in all endeavors aimed at the advancement of our societies.
This year, the Day will be celebrated in the form of a symposium and donation of items to the Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital. Whilst we celebrate the day, we will remember our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who suffer from mental illness. They need to be loved and sheltered in our homes and be provided the opportunity to seek medical attention from our numerous health facilities.
I thank you all for your kind attention and wish you fruitful celebrations.