According to the 2024 Annual Characterization Report on the Situation of Child and Youth Care (CASA), submitted last week to the Assembly of the Republic, a significant percentage of children and young people (41.8%) received regular psychological support, and 12.6% required occasional mental health consultations, either in child psychiatry or psychology.
This reflects that out of 6,349 children and young people in the care system, 2,657 required regular psychological support (41.8%), while 1,747 had regular child psychiatry/psychiatric support (27.5%). Additionally, 29.8% (1,895) used psychiatric medication for children.
Specifically concerning mental health issues, the report indicates that “clinically diagnosed mental deficiency had the highest incidence, observed in 544 (8.5%) children and young people in care.”
“There were 352 children and young people identified with a clinically diagnosed mental health disorder (5.5%), marking a 9% decrease compared to the previous year,” notes the report.
It further adds that 896 children and young people had mental health problems, “corresponding to approximately 14.1% of the population, with this issue being more prevalent in the 15 to 20 age range.”
