Mental health is just as important as physical health, says the Health Ministry.
It made the comment in response to queries from The Fiji Times on a UNICEF report titled “The State of the World’s Children 2021”.
The ministry said if youths felt they were experiencing a number of different emotions at once, reaching out to a trusted friend or adult and talking about their feelings could help.
“If there are a myriad of emotional turmoil such as being angry, worried or sad, talking about these feelings and reaching out to a trusted friends or adults is a great way to deal with the stressors,” the ministry said.
It also said there were interventions which parents, teachers and healthcare professionals could use to ensure children and adolescents were given the care they needed.
“Parents know their child best, talk to the child’s healthcare professional if there are concerns about the way the child behaves at home, in school, or with friends. Healthcare professionals, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment based on updated guidelines are very important. There are resources available to help diagnose and treat children’s mental disorders.”
