A study of young people on the margins of Tunisia .. Mental health and dangerous behavior

Is provided by “International Alert” TunisiaToday Wednesday, the results of a field study on youth mental health in the popular neighborhoods of Al-Ghabaria and three other areas in the capital TunisKasarin In the west of the country andTataouine In the south. The study focused on mental health care and risky behaviors in their areas, and the results were presented by experts and physicians specializing in psychiatry and psychiatry, in the presence of representatives from the Ministries of Health and Youth. Sample of 1250 young people living on the margins.

Mahdi Barhumi, a spokesman for the International Alert Organization, explained to al-Arabi al-Jadeed, “This organization began working in 2012 to promote youth participation in popular and marginalized areas in Tunisia, and has been active in many popular neighborhoods, such as the Al-Tadaman neighborhood and the CD Hussein neighborhood.” The capital is TunisThe focus is on conducting research and research to eliminate events such as marginalization and school dropout.

For his part, Olfa Lamloom, director of the International Alert Office, said: “This study is primarily based on topics of focus in Tunisia, particularly on the mental health of young people, as well as the number and number of delegates selected. And besides job seekers, they have a variety of functions, including those who are related to their studies or students.

Lamlam also told Al-Arabi al-Jadeed that in the three regions targeted in the survey, more than 40 percent of young people said they had no health care and 50 percent always thought about migrating, especially among men, and 71 percent said no action. . ” The impacts of the Corona crisis on cultural, recreational or sporting, as well as social and economic issues. “In response to a question about the effects of the corona crisis on the activities and jobs of these young people, 30% of them were found to have been fired or their family member fired,” Lamlam pointed out. From his job. “

Lamlam added that 27 per cent of young people aged 18-29 said that their psychological state was bad or very bad and that every eight young people made it possible. “

Mariam Abdel-Baqi, director of the organization’s projects, told al-Arabi al-Jadeed, “This publication is the first publication on the mental health of young people and dangerous behaviors in Kabaria, North Kazar and the South. Tataouine,” Noticed. ” He pointed out that the focus was on the above areas, “because we work in the border areas and compared it with Cabaria in the capital, which accounts for 10 percent of the population of Greater Tunis.”

In a related context, researcher Mohammad Rami Abdel Mowla said, “84 percent of inmates are under the age of 40, and studies on the mental health of young people are low, especially when it comes to critical indicators. ” He added, “We went directly to those involved and met the ex-prisoners in the above areas, who are between 19 and 50 years old.”

Abdel Mawla explained to al-Arabi al-Jadeed that “the most important decisions centered on the conditions of the prison were the overcrowding and the lack of personal hygiene equipment in the cells, which exceeded two or three times the capacity. It is given to them in prison, instead they rely on what their family brings or the toilet. There are also complaints about emptiness. They get to watch TV and some activities are sometimes assigned to them.

Abdel Maula added, “Young people in prison talked about the psychological suffering, especially on the day of their arrival. They feel guilty about their families. He added, “When asked about hygiene, they revealed that they were not provided with any health care other than routine check-ups. It is difficult and complicated to see a doctor and it is difficult to transfer prisoners to a hospital, which rarely happens.” Abdel Mowla added, “According to them, there is a lack of psychological explanation and attention to the hygienic conditions in the rooms regarding the covers and mattresses, and there are difficulties in getting the beds.” In the environment, 15 out of 100 people see a psychiatrist. Abdel Moula believed that “prison experience and social stigma worsen the psychological state and sever ties with society, thus registering a sense of injustice, and the rate of return to prison has reached 63 percent of those previously incarcerated.”