Zadar Youth Counseling Center: Budget Cut by 15,000 Euros
This year, 16 young people sought help, but experts warn that the actual number of those in need of support is significantly higher.
This year, 16 young people sought help, but experts warn that the actual number of those in need of support is significantly higher.
Worrying data on the mental health of young people in Zadar has emerged from the city's Youth Counseling Center, which operates under the Center for Youth. The most common issues they face are anxiety disorders and learning difficulties, with depressive states also frequently affecting a growing number of young people across Croatia.
According to a report from the Department for Social Welfare and Health, 16 young individuals sought professional help this year. However, it is estimated that the number of those needing support is much higher, but feelings of discomfort and shame deter them from seeking help.
Mladen Klanac, the head of the Department for Social Welfare and Health, reported that funds for this activity have been reduced by 15,000 euros. He explained that the reason is the inability to establish the Counseling Center during the current year, as its operation is tied to the establishment of the Center for Youth institution.
Despite the budget cut, the City of Zadar assures that this activity will continue to be regularly funded. They emphasize that they are guided by the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which highlight the importance of youth-friendly services-from confidentiality and privacy to adapted spaces and staff approaches that make young people feel comfortable.
Counseling is carried out in partnership with several key institutions and organizations: the Zadar Public Health Institute, the University of Zadar, the PSIHIKA association, the ORA Center, and the Zadar County Psychologists' Society, all in collaboration with a psychiatry specialist.
The City highlights that in implementing the youth support program, it is crucial for young people to perceive it as an informal institution where they can drop in unannounced. Last year, services such as information provision, psychosocial support, counseling, and mental health care were launched, aiming to make it easier for young people to take the first step toward seeking help.
