Skopje, 30 October 2023 (MIA) — Addressing a workshop on raising awareness of children's mental health, Minister of Health Fatmir Mexhiti said Monday he had recently established a committee to both monitor and design activities responding to the mental health needs of children, adolescents and young people in the country, the Ministry of Health said in a press release.

"As Minister of Health, this September, for the first time in the Ministry, I appointed an oversight committee including all relevant stakeholders from the health, education and social sectors as well as representatives of professional associations and experts in the field," Mexhiti said.

"This oversight committee has the task of monitoring activities related to the prevention of mental health and the psychosocial condition of children and adolescents within our joint program with WHO and UNICEF," he said.

The same committee was also tasked with preparing "a National Action Plan with measures and activities aimed at responding to the younger generation's mental health needs, no later than the end of this year," he added.

According to the release, latest research on the behavior of school-age children showed that as many as 57 percent of 15-year-old girls had reported frequent low moods, almost daily, over the last six months.

"We need to act together," Mexhiti is quoted as saying in the release. "Only through dedicated partnership and cooperation between the various institutions, young people, parents or guardians, caregivers, civil society and international organizations, can we provide support for the mental health of our children and adolescents."

Mexhiti also thanked the local WHO and UNICEF representatives for their support in the implementation of activities related to young people's mental health, the release adds. mr/