Stress and anxiety are pervasive among young people in Cyprus, but many are not getting the help they need, according to a new national report by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF. The study was coordinated by CARDET with support from the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Cyprus Youth Council, capturing the perspectives of youth alongside parents, educators and mental-health professionals.
The findings are stark. Eighty-six per cent of respondents report high anxiety and uncertainty about the future, while three in four feel constant pressure and stress. Although 60% of young people felt they needed to see a mental-health professional, fewer than half (43%) did so—citing stigma, low awareness and limited access as the main barriers. The report also notes that most mental-health disorders (75%) emerge before age 25, underscoring the urgency of early support. Referrals to school psychologists have surged, with more than 7,700 students referred in 2020-2021.
Access remains uneven. The study identifies four principal obstacles to care: stigma and prejudice; a lack of youth-friendly, welcoming spaces; low awareness of available services; and unequal access, especially in rural areas. “We don’t always know where to go for help. And even when services exist, they don’t always feel like they are for us,” one participant said.
The report urges a pivot to prevention and early intervention, with young people actively shaping the services they use. Its recommendations will inform the National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan currently being developed by the Ministry of Health, CARDET said.
“These findings are a wake-up call,” said Alexandros Tifas, Mental Health Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health. “Behind the numbers are young people who deserve compassion, understanding and access to support when they need it. By turning their voices into action, we can create services that truly respond to their needs and build a society where mental health is a shared priority.”
CNA