You're not bad, you're just feeling bad.
UNICEF’s national campaign in support of the mental health of young people and adolescents
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The mental health of children and young people in the world and in Serbia
The mental health of children and adolescents (aged 0 to 18) is one of the most neglected health issues globally. In Serbia, according to the Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents, about 16 percent of young people aged 16 to 17 are vulnerable in terms of mental health and may need professional help, but limited access to mental health services and stigma remain serious barriers.
By creating a stigma-free environment that provides young people with an easy and non-intrusive entry into the support system, the likelihood increases that they will seek help and remain engaged in the process of care.
UNICEF and the mental health of children and adolescents
In 2021, through the campaign “From My Angle,” we reflected on how young people experience and cope with mental health challenges, how they become aware of them, and how they perceive them.
In 2022, through the campaign “How Are You? Really…”, we aimed to encourage the development of informal support systems and highlight the importance of a supportive environment, conversations with family and friends, and the understanding that mental health challenges are not always visible. The campaign emphasized the need to talk about these issues and to check in with loved ones from time to time — genuinely, with understanding and the intention to truly listen, not just out of formality.
In 2023, we launched the campaign “Don’t Leave _____ for Later.”
We wanted to ask — how often do we take a moment for ourselves and for one another?
How often do work, obligations, university, money, school, training, results, or exams seem more important than taking time for ourselves and each other? And is mental health often the last thing we pay attention to — until problems arise?
Our goal was to highlight the importance of key relationships in the lives of children and young people — relationships that are essential for a quality life and form a solid foundation for lifelong mental health.
The conference “Supporting the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children, Adolescents and Youth in Serbia” hosted the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between six ministries: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, and the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography of Serbia.
The conference brought together national and international experts from various fields, professionals from four sectors, decision-makers, and employees of health institutions, schools, social welfare institutions, and civil society organizations to exchange the latest insights and discuss challenges and best practices.
In addition to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, which defined sectoral roles and responsibilities, key recommendations were carefully reviewed and addressed.
The third international conference on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Serbia, “Together – We’re on the Same Side,” marked an important step forward following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the areas of prevention and protection of the mental health of children, adolescents, and young people. The Memorandum was signed by six ministries: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, and the Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography.
Since the signing of the Memorandum in October 2023, Serbia has made significant progress, actively working on six joint priorities to improve the provision of mental health and psychosocial support services for children, adolescents, and young people.
You're not bad, you're just feeling bad.
This year’s national campaign aims to reaffirm the messages from previous years — the importance of self-care, support from family and friends, and the value of talking to mental health professionals. However, more than ever before, this year we seek to shift the campaign’s approach toward advocacy — to call on ministries to double their efforts and fulfill the commitments made under the Memorandum of Understanding, dedicating time and resources to strengthening mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for children and young people.
The objectives of the national public campaign are to:
- Encourage sustainable government investment in creating an enabling environment for children, adolescents, and caregivers.
- Strengthen the capacity of community-based care systems to provide mental health and psychosocial support services (including primary healthcare, schools, social services, and the digital environment).
- Improve the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children and adolescents in targeted municipalities.
