State of the World's Children Report 2021

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GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Recently, UNICEF has released The State of the World’s Children 2021. The report details the significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.

State of the World Children’s Report 2021 theme- ‘On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health’.
The State of the World’s Children 2021 examines child, adolescent and caregiver mental health.
It focuses on risks and protective factors at critical moments in the life course and delves into the social determinants that shape mental health and well-being.
It calls for commitment, communication and action as part of a comprehensive approach to promote good mental health for every child, protect vulnerable children and care for children facing the greatest challenges.

Among the adolescents, 7% of the Indian population are overweight as compared to the world average of 24%.
14% of adolescents felt depressed or had little interest in doing things.
Only 41% adolescents were willing to get support on mental health.
At least 50 million children faced mental health issues before COVID. And among them 80-90% have not sought support.
India spent only 0.05% of its health budget on mental health.

National Mental Health Program (NMHP), 1982: to improve the status of mental health in India, focusing on three main components:
- Treatment of the Mentally ill,
- Rehabilitation and
- Prevention and promotion of positive mental health.
The Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) 2017: repealed the Mental Health Act, 1987. It seeks to ensure the person’s rights with mental illness to receive care and live a life with dignity.
Decriminalizes suicide under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code: by presuming a suicidal person to be “suffering from severe stress’’. The person will also not subject to any investigation or prosecution.
Right to mental healthcare: is provided under the Act to ensure access to mental healthcare facilities to suffering individuals.