In recent years, there has been more talk about mental health, but still not enough. Depression, anxiety, pressure, feelings of loneliness, and not being good enough have become everyday realities for many young people, both globally and in Serbia. At first glance, everything seems fine. Young people are walking around, socializing, and laughing. But sometimes, behind a smile, there is something no one can see. They face many challenges without understanding or adequate support. Many still hesitate to share their struggles with anyone, let alone seek help.
What Is Depression?
You know that feeling when you can’t get yourself to move, when you have no will for anything, and even brushing your teeth feels like a huge achievement? That’s not just sadness, laziness, or a phase. Nothing makes you happy anymore, nothing is interesting, and nothing can fulfill you. You lose interest in things and people you love the most. When you force a smile so hard it exhausts you like a workout, just so no one sees how tired you really are. Everything around you is silent, but your mind is loud, overwhelmed, and all you want is peace, to turn everything off.
Young people suffering from depression say they feel empty. For each person it’s different, some can’t eat, some overeat, some can’t sleep, while others sleep all the time. But what’s often the same for all is: they stay silent.
According to WHO, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents worldwide. In Serbia, more than 20% of young people show symptoms of depression, but most do not receive any form of professional help (UNICEF, 2022).
How Many Young People Are Suffering?
According to UNICEF, every fifth adolescent in Serbia shows signs of psychological difficulties. That could be anyone, your friend, sister, brother or maybe even you. Think of how many are silently struggling.
A study by the Institute for Mental Health, in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and Philosophy, found that more than 20% of youth suffer from depression, anxiety, and other issues.
Why Are Young People Silent?
The biggest problem is silence, and the greatest enemies are fear and shame. Fear of rejection, fear of not being understood, of being ignored or becoming a burden. Many parents in Serbia, as members of older generations, often have less awareness and understanding of mental health issues, which leads to dismissing the seriousness of the problem. That’s why kids are afraid to turn to those who are supposed to be their biggest support.
When it comes to shame, many young people believe it’s a weakness to admit you’re feeling bad and say you’re not okay. Showing emotion is often seen as a weakness, and talking about it is viewed as shameful, which is completely wrong and exactly what causes more harm.
Also, many cannot afford private psychologists. According to the Network of Psychosocial Innovations (PIN) in 2023, there are only 123 psychologists working in public health centers across Serbia, highlighting a shortage of professionals in the mental health field. It’s assumed that from 2023 to now, not much has changed, pointing to ongoing challenges in providing proper psychological support in Serbia.
Why Is Mental Health Still a Taboo Topic in Serbia?
Mental health is still barely discussed in Serbia. Many people, not just youth, believe that mental health problems are a sign of weakness. When you tell someone older that you’re struggling, they’ll likely say, “Don’t make things up” or “In our day, we didn’t have those problems, look how normal we turned out.” That’s why in many families, these topics are never discussed. Everything gets swept under the rug. Unfortunately, this mindset is deeply rooted in Serbian culture, where showing vulnerability is simply not an option. That’s why educating people of all ages is so important.
Is Help Available?
The state has started to recognize the problem and how important mental health is for young people. Working groups have been formed and some educational programs started.
The National Youth Strategy for 2023–2030 aims to create conditions for a healthy and safe environment for youth and includes measures for promoting healthy lifestyles and mental health.
The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Institute for Mental Health, launched training focused on early detection of mental health issues.
But the question remains, what is it like in practice? Young people still don’t know where to turn, and even more rarely do they receive professional, accessible, and free help.
We need greater investment in psychological services, schools, and concrete support programs. In a country with over a million young people, professional help should not be a luxury, but a basic right.
What Needs to Be Done?
Perhaps the most helpful thing would be to talk openly about mental health. Young people need to know that there are people who can help, and that it’s not shameful to feel bad. Sometimes it’s enough just to know you’re not alone.
Support should be available from the very beginning, during adolescence and even early school years, through mental health professionals in schools. More psychologists are needed in schools. It’s also crucial for young people from all backgrounds to have access to free psychological support.
Adults often don’t recognize when a child has a problem, so it’s essential to educate parents and teachers. Mental hygiene is as important as physical hygiene. We must learn how to take care of ourselves, how to clear our minds, rest, forgive, talk, and ask for help.
Conclusion
Mental health among young people in Serbia is becoming an increasingly serious issue and the most concerning aspect is the silence. Young people suffer, but they don’t talk about it. They remain silent because they were raised in an environment that never taught them that it’s okay not to be okay. They stay quiet out of shame. That silence only makes the problem worse and more dangerous. Depression cannot be cured by silence, silence is what feeds it.
Although the world is changing and there is more talk about depression, anxiety, and emotions in general, in Serbia these topics are still taboo. Many adults still believe it’s all “just in your head,” a phase, or attention-seeking. That’s why kids and teens feel misunderstood in their own homes, where they should find their first and most important source of support.
As long as young people remain silent, the problem grows. But if we listen to and support them, we can prevent a great deal of pain. We must hear each other. And we must understand that saying “I’m not okay” is not weakness, it is an act of courage, especially in a world that teaches us to stay silent.
References:
https://www.unicef.org/serbia/en/mental-health-and-well-being
Psychosocial Innovation Network (PIN) i Laboratorija za istraživanje individualnih razlika, Filozofski fakultet, Univerzitet u Beogradu, https://pin.org.rs/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Depresija-kod-starijih-osoba_zastitni-i-faktori-rizika.pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11505036
https://national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu/youthwiki/chapters/serbia/75-mental-health
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-mentalno-zdravlje-premalo-strucnjaka/33021897.html