School dropouts or pushouts are at risk


The Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) and the Under Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr George Malefoasi have launched a report titled “Youth and Mental Health in Solomon Islands: A Situation Analysis”.

The report written by Dr Christine Jourdan, highlights major mental health related issues affecting the youth of Solomon Islands and recommends the way forward for youth development.

Dr Jourdan worked with a team of community-based Solomon Islands youth researchers in preparing the report.
The report is an initiative by the Youth and Mental Health project coordinated by SIDT, supported by the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI) and funded by NZAID.

Describing the report as invaluable Dr Malefoasi said: “The data and information sets out the baseline parameters and should help all stakeholders plan and allocate resources in supporting the recommendations in the report.”

The report analyses existing research on this issue, interviewed stakeholders and focused its primary research in communities of Koa Hill, Burnscreek and Fulisango in Honiara.

The report found that the youth face a range of social and economic issues that bear on their ability to deal with life in a mentally healthy way.

Preliminary observations in Honiara shows a high youth population. Issues of poverty; unemployment (75% of 15 - 29 year olds are unemployed); aimlessness, depression, drug and alcohol misuse, limited and inadequate education and training opportunities, gender disparity, marginalisation, violence, sexual abuse and family breakdown are raised by the youth and discussed in the report.

The reported attempted suicide rate in Honiara alone, within an eight-month period is very high.

From January to August 2007, there were 41 attempted suicides, 35 of them female and 6 were male. Most of these occur amongst the younger population.

This statistic is disturbing and like other youth and mental issues, it needs further gender-based research and urgent action to prevent such tragedies occurring.

The report shows that young people who have left school (dropouts or pushouts), or those who have no schoolling are at risk of developing psychological and social difficulties.

The fact that a large number of them cannot find employment partly because they have no marketable skills and or because employment opportunities are rare, it lessens their ability to find a constructive way to place themselves in their communities and society.

This situation seriously affects their self-esteem and can lead to depression.

The report highlights that it is vitally necessary to develop more projects and programmes that provide vocational guidance, counselling and structural support to improve learning and skill opportunities. Young people who are still in school and pursuing their education may be at less risk. But measures need to be put in place to ensure that education and training will allow them to become employed and to contribute back to society and their communities.

In addition, a high number of students going overseas for post-graduate degrees are not returning to the Solomon Islands. The country is experiencing a drain of talent it cannot afford. Incentives need to be created to encourage them to return and be able to be employed and contribute back to Solomon Islands’ development.

The findings also indicate that the tension that took place in the Solomon Islands between 1998 and 2002 and beyond, played havoc on the lives of people in Honiara.

The report reveals the trauma created by the tension should not be underestimated. In particular, the report goes further to highlight the devastating and potentially long-term impact of such events on youth. Youth appear to have lost trust in their national institutions and are looking for leadership and role models to successfully lead them.

Despite their demographic importance, the report found that young people continue to have little or no real voice in the affairs of the country and are given very little opportunity to constructively contribute to the social and economic development of their country.

“Their political voice is negligible. SIDT believes in giving voice to young people. The research has provided youth with an opportunity to tell us their stories in their own words about their issues and how they are managing these challenges. In some instances, it illustrates how they make decisions that have negative impacts on their life,” said Wate.

The report outlines a number of key recommendations which include action on mental health legislation and policy; the development of programmes which create a policy environment respectful of the rights of those with mental ill health to prevent discrimination; mental health counseling facilities; gender sensitive youth support services; education and awareness on gender and family relations; anger management, suicide prevention and improvements in opportunities for training and employment.

“The recommendations highlighted in this report cannot be taken for granted. The report calls for greater focus by everyone to reduce mental ill health and improve coping strategies, because mental health is everyone’s business," said Wate.

“The challenge is for everyone at the family level, community and national levels to develop programmes and create opportunities to address these issues and create a policy environment which is respectful of the rights of those with mental ill health, to prevent discrimination against them,” she said.

A full copy of the report is available online at www.fspi.org.fj