Doc. 8572
6 October 1999

Teenagers in distress: a social and health-based approach to youth malaise

Motion for a recommendation
presented by Mr Mattéi and others

1.       The widespread upsurge in the harmful consumption of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and psychoactive substances by young people is the alarming signal of a worrying decline in young people’s health throughout Europe. Tobacco and alcohol consumption is high among teenagers, and begins at an increasingly early age. Beer, “alcopops” and vodka are taking their toll. Young people are also increasingly attracted to synthetic drugs whose effects are sometimes still uncertain, such as “ecstasy” or “serenity”, while the consumption of marijuana (“dope”, etc.) is becoming commonplace.

2.       However, young people are also prey to other problems that indicate a more deep-rooted malaise and are reflected in the upsurge in suicides, anorexia, bulimia, depression and so on. These new forms of physical and mental suffering are still not properly understood.

3.       These phenomena are the expression of the distress experienced by some young people, of a certain anxiety that is hard for families, the medical and education sectors, the public authorities and, most of all, for the young people themselves to identify.

4.       While too many children still suffer from malnutrition or nutrient deficiency in a number of European countries, in others an increasing proportion of young people are suffering from eating disorders.

5.       Throughout Europe, suicide rates are rising steadily among young people. In most west European countries, and in particular France, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Finland, suicide is the second highest cause of death among teenagers, after road accidents. In France, for example, 12 000 suicides are recorded every year, and there are an estimated 160 000 suicide attempts per year.

6.       Since the social and cultural environment makes young people more vulnerable, it influences the decline in their overall level of health: violence, insecurity, urbanisation and fear of unemployment, social or professional failure are all factors which affect teenagers’ health.

7.       Although these problems all belong to the individual or family sphere, the public authorities should gauge their full extent and set up initiatives to inform, listen to and help young people.

8.       Greater public awareness is needed. Measures should be taken promptly to protect young people in three main areas:

i.       abuse of illegal psychoactive substances and excessive alcohol consumption;

ii.       dietary habits;

iii.       suicides.

9.       The Assembly consequently recommends that the Committee of Ministers invite member states to devise and set up:

i.       information and awareness campaigns for young people on the dangers to which they are exposed through tobacco, alcohol and drug consumption or abnormal dietary habits;

ii.       health education programmes, based on better training for teaching and medical staff;

iii.       programmes to prevent suicide;

iv.       prevention and awareness campaigns for young people on violence;

v.       prevention facilities, such as drop-in centres or advice booths, particularly within schools, so that counsellors may hear teenagers’ pleas for help and defuse crises;

vi.       provisions for emergency intervention, particularly within the hospital sector, and for relapse prevention;

vii.       more repressive measures to limit or ban the sale and consumption of alcohol and psychoactive substances to minors.

Signed :¹

Mattéi, France, LDR

About, France, LDR

Alis Font, Andorra, NR

Dhaille, France, SOC

Flynn, United Kingdom, SOC

Gibula, Poland, SOC

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

McCafferty, United Kingdom, SOC

Mitterrand, France, SOC

Valkeniers, Belgium, LDR

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

________________

       SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group