National strategy(ies)

BiH still does not have a unified national mental health strategy at the state level. However, the mental health reform initiated in 1996 represents one of the most significant examples of regional progress in transitioning from an institutional to a community-based model of mental health care. BiH is the only country in Southeast Europe that has established a network of 74 Mental Health Centers (CMZ), operating within primary healthcare centers and serving over 3.8 million residents. The teams at CMZs are multidisciplinary, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses, and in some cases occupational therapists, speech therapists, special educators, and child psychiatrists.

Improving Youth Mental Health

Although CMZs are crucial for service provision, youth mental health remains insufficiently covered, especially in the post-COVID period. Global estimates show that one in five adolescents experiences some form of mental disorder each year, self-harm is the third leading cause of death among adolescents, and depression is a major cause of disability.

From 2021 to 2023, UNICEF BiH supported mental health and social work centers by providing IT equipment (tablets, smartphones), training professionals in crisis interventions (including telephone counseling), and establishing community support groups. Over 45,000 children, adolescents, and parents benefited from these interventions, including 5,000 direct psychosocial service users.

Despite this progress, challenges remain: the lack of systemic mechanisms for prevention and early identification of mental health difficulties among youth, insufficient specialization of professionals for the adolescent population, and persistent stigma that prevents young people from seeking help. According to UNICEF BiH’s 2023 annual report, 39% of adolescents report mental health problems, most commonly anxiety and depression. Similarly, international reports from Save the Children (2022) highlight that support services for children and youth, particularly in crisis situations, are insufficiently available.

UNICEF’s 2023 global mental health report identified nearly 35 million children, adolescents, parents, and caregivers in need of psychosocial and mental health services, yet availability and quality were severely limited. This reflects the local situation in BiH, the youth recognize the problem but often remain without support.

Young people report that due to stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression, they attempt to seek help, but public health institutions, schools, and the NGO sector still lack well-developed, accessible, and continuous support mechanisms. Most services are fragmented, irregular, and focused on crisis interventions rather than prevention and long-term support.

These findings are complemented by global WHO and UNICEF guidelines, which emphasize that reducing psychological stigma, investing in school and community support, and an integrated approach through education and healthcare are key to reducing the risk of mental disorders among youth.

In BD BiH and most local communities, there are no specialized youth mental health programs, although local NGOs increasingly organize workshops on emotional regulation and stress management in cooperation with educational institutions.