On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, which is celebrated on 10.10. The Center for Psychological Support "Sensus" reminds decision-makers and the public of a burning problem that directly affects the future of our society: young people in secondary schools of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNK) still do not have systematically provided and available psychological support. The campaign that Sensus is actively leading has a clear goal, which is the introduction of psychologists in secondary schools in the canton. World Mental Health Day is a reminder as well as an alarm to move from words to actions.

Sometimes the greatest difficulties that students go through are not seen in grades, absences, or behavior. A student can sit in a desk, follow classes regularly, and talk to friends, while carrying a burden that he doesn't know how to talk about. We can't always know what every young person is going through, but as a society we have a moral and institutional responsibility to create an environment where they don't have to wait until it becomes unbearable to get help. Schools must be a safe space where there is a trusted professional, someone who will listen to the youth without judgment and help them not carry their burdens alone.

High school age is the period of the most intense peer, academic, and developmental challenges. When the school does not have an employed psychologist, students are left to fend for themselves. The psychologist from Sensus points out that: "Adolescence is a period of intense neurobiological development and psychosocial restructuring, which is why young people at this age are extremely vulnerable to the development of various mental difficulties, such as anxiety, depressive states and behavioral disorders. The mental and physical health of adolescents are in constant interaction - long-term emotional distress and repressed psychological conflicts are directly manifested through somatic symptoms, a decline in cognitive performance and difficulties in emotional regulation. The availability of psychologists in the school environment enables timely triage, early detection, and crisis interventions at the very source of the problem. Without systemic support within the institutions where they spend most of their time, adolescents are left without a basic psychological resource, which can have long-term negative consequences for their overall development and functionality."

Investing in mental health within the education system is a basic pillar of public health and long-term development of society. Unsolved psychological problems in the adolescent age are progressively reflected in the physical health and general functionality of the individual. Stable psychological support must become a system standard, ensured through consistent application and harmonization of pedagogical standards and long-term and stable funding from the cantonal budget.