The poll targets adolescents and youth 12-29 years old and aims to focus on the effects of recent global crises - economic and climate crises, war, and pandemic. In addition, the poll aims to explore young people’s desire and strength to overcome their fears and concerns, while at the same time it provides useful information about the available mental health services in Greece.
The poll is launched on 8 December 2022 and will remain open until 8 January 2023. Those young people and teenagers who wish to share their views can become members of U-Report Greece by sending the message 'Health' via Viber, Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
The General Secretary of Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth Mr. Georgios Voutsinos stated: "We all have a deep interest in the emotional wellbeing of our country's youth. The issue of mental health is at the center of actions and policies aimed at protecting adolescents and young people. After a pandemic, and while war rages on European soil, this poll on young people's mental health, launched in the context of the European Year of Youth 2022, comes at the right time as it is a year dedicated to empowering those who have offered so much to others."
The Representative of UNICEF in Greece, Mr. Luciano Calestini, said: "The synergy with the General Secretariat of Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth confirms the mutual commitment between all competent partners that support young people, to offer them the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect their lives and their community. The mental health and wellbeing of young people and adolescents is the key challenge of the post-COVID-19 era, which is why we want to hear from them how they have experienced/are experiencing the current global crises.”
The results of the poll will be presented during the Open Days organized by the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth, in January 2023, in the context of the European Year of Youth 2022.
U-Report is a UNICEF-led platform used by more than 27 million children and youth in 92 countries. In Greece, UNICEF is working with the Network for Children’s Rights to implement and promote the U-Report Greece platform which was launched in April 2022. U-Report aims to foster a sense of active participation in adolescents and young people and to integrate their voices in policy- and decision-making processes.
