Swedish children feel worse mentally than children in other rich countries. It shows a report from the children’s rights organization Unicef.
According to Åsa Lindhagen, Minister responsible for child rights policy, much is being done, but even more needs to be done
– It is of course remarkable that we end up so low in this report. I think it is an alarm clock, that we are one of the richest countries in the world, but we still have children in Sweden who are not feeling well, says Åsa Lindhagen, Minister responsible for child rights policy.
Unicef has compiled a line various surveys conducted both nationally and internationally in 38 of the world’s richest countries, to get an idea of how children feel – mentally and physically – and how well they are doing in school and in social life.
When it comes to mental health, Sweden ranks 22nd out of the 38 countries. One reason is all the demands placed on young people today, says Åsa Lindhagen.
– It can be appearance among girls, demands in school, worries about the future, climate change, I will get a job. Then we also have increased gaps in Sweden and increased conditions for growing up, it can also affect children’s health negatively.
In total, if you add up In all parts of the report, Sweden ranks tenth. But they could be better, says Unicef Sweden’s Secretary General Pernilla Baralt:
– We have all the conditions in this country, economically, socially and environmentally. There is no reason why we should not be at the top, she says.
It is done and has been done a number of initiatives to, for example, prevent young people’s mental illness, increase children’s support in school and improve children’s rights, says Åsa Lindhagen. And there will be investments in the budget, which will be implemented soon, which will help strengthen the situation of children in Sweden.
– We are one of the richest countries in the world, it is clear that we could do better than ourselves when it comes to children’s situation. There we need to take a step forward, says Åsa Lindhagen.
Source: ICELAND NEWS