Mental Health: Nearly One-Third of Young People Who Participated in the Survey Consider Seeking Help but Do Not Do So

Although more than half of young people are satisfied with their lives and rate their physical and mental health as good, there are important exceptions. One in five young people rates their mental health as (very) poor, and one-third report a lack of motivation or a sense of involvement in everyday life.

This was shown by a study conducted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana between June and September 2024 through an online survey. A total of 1,059 young people aged 16 to 24 from all regions of Slovenia participated. The initial sample consisted of 68% women and 32% men; 59% of respondents were aged 16–18, 20% were 19–21, and 21% were 22–24. In the analysis, weighting by gender and age was applied to ensure that the results were more comparable to the structure of the youth population in Slovenia.

The study clearly shows the interplay of personal and societal burdens. Participants are most often burdened by economic crises (55%), restrictions on personal freedom (53%), poverty (50%), and social inequalities (47%). These concerns are intertwined with personal difficulties—from a lack of housing (62%) to uncertainty regarding employment (54%) and education (51%)—creating a sense of multilayered insecurity that strongly affects the mental health of young people in Slovenia. Such pressures are not the personal responsibility of young people but rather reflect social and political decisions in which they had little say, yet whose consequences they strongly feel.

Risky behaviors and lifestyle

Certain behaviors, such as occasional risky alcohol consumption, the use of psychoactive substances, or lack of sleep, can be part of experimentation and boundary-testing during youth, which is developmentally understandable. At the same time, such inadequate self-regulation patterns may also be a response to feelings of overload, stress, or pressure.

In the past month, 44% of participants reported at least one instance of risky alcohol consumption (five or more drinks for men or four or more for women on a single occasion). Additionally, 45% of young people do not get enough sleep according to age recommendations, with 33% experiencing sleep difficulties.

Self-initiated use of medication and increased digital exposure also indicate that many young people attempt to regulate their well-being on their own. Sixteen percent of respondents have used medication without a prescription to improve their well-being. Twenty-three percent exceed the threshold for excessive use of digital content, meaning that internet or digital media use is already causing problems in daily life (e.g., affecting school obligations, relationships, or mood), while an additional 24% show an increased risk of developing addiction. These young people already exhibit behavioral patterns characteristic of addiction—loss of control, compulsive use, and neglect of other activities.

Adverse childhood experiences

Childhood is when the foundations of safety, belonging, and trust are formed—or, conversely, feelings of threat and mistrust. More than one in ten participants report having experienced four or more significantly adverse experiences during childhood or adolescence.

Seventeen percent report experiences of sexual abuse, 19% live with an adult household member with a mental disorder, 63% have been repeatedly (at least 2–5 times) exposed to physical or emotional harassment by peers, and 32% have experienced prolonged family conflict. These experiences are not merely part of the past—they have long-term effects on self-image, relationships, and coping mechanisms.

Uncertainty, anxiety, and distress—part of growing up, but also a warning

The distress experienced by young people should not be underestimated. It is important to distinguish between temporary difficulties, where support from close networks (peers, family, school, and broader support systems) is sufficient, and more severe forms of problems or disorders that require professional help and possibly clinical treatment. Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness but an act of responsibility and self-care. However, if we view young people’s distress solely through diagnoses or moral judgment, we miss a crucial point: these struggles are often a response to broader social and systemic pressures.

The study is part of the project Mental Health of Young People in Slovenia in the Context of Global Crises: State, Risk Factors, and Protective Factors.