Commissioner Kyriakides hosts launch of the UNICEF report on the State of the World’s Children 2021

Tomorrow, alongside Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians and UNICEF, Commissioner Kyriakides will participate in the launch of the UNICEF European Regional Brief on the State of the World’s Children Report 2021, ‘Mental health: breaking the silence.’ The report represents the most comprehensive analysis of global trends affecting children and examines children and young people’s mental health and well-being worldwide. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “After almost two years of living with COVID-19, a silent pandemic of mental health has been spreading across the world. Everyone has been affected to a larger or lesser degree, but in particular our children who have missed out on socialisation, crucial experiences and education. Many are seeing their parents struggling, and unfortunately domestic violence reports have increased. Tomorrow, we come together to listen to our young people, and what they want to tell us on wellbeing and mental health. Mental health matters – now more than ever – and young people are the future of the strong European Health Union we are building.” The launch event aims at listening to children and young people’s views, their concerns and solutions on their wellbeing and mental health while engaging live with high-level personalities and policymakers. Follow the live webcast tomorrow, 15 October, from 10:00-11:00 CET here.