The data presented during the conference with the participation of DOVE experts and the UNAWEZA Foundation are alarming. Kantar research commissioned by DOVE shows that more than half of teenagers in Poland think that they are worthless, and as many as 80 percent respondents feel that they lack self-confidence. They compare themselves to the people they see on social media, which additionally negatively affects their mood and well-being (25 percent of respondents believe so). 1/3 of respondents claim that they are ashamed of the way they look, and 2/3 would change many things about their appearance.
Moreover, teenagers often consume content that has a negative impact on their mental health and may pose a threat to their lives. “Nearly 70 percent of respondents admit that they watch content that disturbs their self-esteem, and every fourth – content that encourages self-harm,” we read in the report.
Poor mental condition of Polish teenagers
As Martyna Wojciechowska, founder of the UNAWEZA Foundation, emphasized during the press conference, up to a million young people in Poland may experience a mental crisis, and there are just over 550 pediatric doctors in Poland.
– In many places, a visit to a psychologist or a child psychiatrist on the National Health Fund takes more than a year or two, while private visits also involve many months of waiting, and yet many people cannot afford private medical care (…) I believe that there is currently no more urgent and more important topic than the mental health of young people. And the solution that can be introduced now is an early response system, prevention and education. After all, it’s about the young generation, that is, our future. That is why, as the president of the UNAWEZA Foundation, I decided to act. This is how the YOUNG HEADS educational project was created. “Openly about mental health” – we are creating it in cooperation with a group of experts and specialists. For all young heads, without exceptions – she said.
“They compare themselves to unrealistic beauty standards.”
Ma³gorzata Ohme, a psychologist and psychotherapist, noticed that parents often come to the office with children who withdraw into themselves and are reluctant to share their experiences. – They spend most of their time on social media and the Internet. This is where they draw inspiration from, where they look for friendship and role models. However, what worries parents the most is teenagers’ dissatisfaction with themselves and their appearance – especially visible in adolescent girls. They look for approval outside, they do not accept themselves, they compare themselves to unrealistic beauty standards, which they observe mainly on social media, she explained. She added that “teachers often report teenagers’ problems with concentration and difficulties in building peer relationships.” As she explained, this is largely related to low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence.
The Dove brand and the UNAWEZA Foundation together with the YOUNG HEADS project joined forces to improve the situation of Polish teenagers. The Dove Self-Esteem program consists of 6 workshop lessons, which are ready-made tools for teachers to work with students in grades 4-8 of primary schools. The program is free and the school just needs to register at doveselfesteem.pl.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
