'65% of Zim youths suffer drug-induced mental problems'

About 65% of Zimbabwean youths are said to suffer from mental problems due to drug and substance abuse, and unemployment.

This was said by Zimbabwe United Nations Association Youth president Mcleo Mapfumo during yesterday's commemorations of International Youth Day in Harare.

This year's theme was Youth and Mental Health - Mental Health Matters. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a speech read on his behalf by Tafadzwa Mwale, the officer in charge of United Nations National Centre, said 20% of the world's young people experienced a mental health condition each year.

Ban said vulnerable youths that were homeless, those involved in the juvenile justice system, orphaned and those experiencing conflict situations were often more susceptible to stigma and other barriers as well as mental health problems.

Zimbabwe National Association of Mental Health representative Ignatius Murambidzi said one in every four people in Zimbabwe was affected by mental health problems.