Dear friends of Ukraine,
Children and young people are one of the most vulnerable segments of our population. Statistics underscore the fact that adolescents often grapple with mental well-being concerns more widely than any other age cohort. Some lifelong conditions have their roots in childhood experiences. Therefore, it becomes our solemn duty to provide the best support for our children to navigate the challenges they face and, by doing do, possibly prevent future health issues.
We need more action by governments and by civil society but no single initiative is enough. Our strategy must be rooted in the establishment of an all-encompassing support system, meaning accessible help for everyone based on their needs. In Estonia, we are wholeheartedly committed to constructing such a system.
It might be useful to think of those mental health services as a pyramid. At its top, we find professional assistance provided by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, suited for addressing severe cases. However, in order to prevent escalation of most issues to the level where such professional help is needed, it is imperative to foster services at the lower tiers of this pyramid – namely, community-level services and initiatives geared towards nurturing the psycho-emotional resilience of our people.
This translates into an educational paradigm wherein children are equipped with the tools to navigate their emotions, recognize problems, and provide support. The same holds true for parents and educators.
While it is tempting to blame internet and social media for the challenges our youth face, we must first look into the mirror and ask ourselves – have we really made our best to make our children feel safe and supported? Have we created an environment that nurtures their resilience for handling the complexities of both digital and real-world scenarios?
Let us all call out for healthy relationships – with friends and family. For more green spaces in cities, sports facilities, safe environments for spending time with friends.
For widely accessible non-formal education and cultural institutions such as museums – all these play a pivotal, often overlooked role in supporting mental well-being.
Consequently, we must acknowledge that every facet of our policymaking must invariably be framed within the context of mental health. Every policy can and should be mental health policy.
In Estonia, we have found a good model where the government collaborates extensively with non-governmental organizations. This collaborative model has not only created excellent services for the population, including young people, but has also prompted a shift in societal attitudes towards mental health.
We have also seen that such collaborations, also involving private companies, were quickly forged to support the mental well-being of Ukrainian refugees. These initiatives have also involved Ukrainian psychologists who were forced to leave their home country and found residence in Estonia. Without them, we could not have provided as much help as it has been possible now. However, much work lies ahead since the scale of trauma is enormous and without immediate actions, risks casting a long, corrupting shadow over the lives of those affected by this horrendous attack on Ukraine.
For this reason, this conference is most timely and a welcome call to action, for the mental well-being of our children and young people is one of the most important duties for our generation. Together, we can forge this brighter, more resilient future for the generations to come.
We are here today in order to build a peaceful and bright future for the children of Ukraine.
Бажаю усім українським дітям мирного і сонягмого майбутнього!
Дякую.
