WHO: 2 in 3 young people in Europe have experienced childhood trauma

A new report by the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe shows that more than two thirds of young people in Europe have experienced at least one adverse experience during childhood, from domestic violence and abuse to the separation or loss of a parent.

The study, which surveyed more than 26,000 young people aged 18 to 30, shows that more than one in five of them have experienced four or more such experiences. According to the report, the consequences can appear years later in mental health, physical well-being, social relationships, education and employment.

The most common experiences reported by the young people were the separation or death of parents, witnessing domestic violence and emotional abuse.

“When a child grows up around violence or in a family in crisis, we should not be surprised that this follows them into the classroom, the labour market and their relationships years later,” said Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, director of health systems at WHO/Europe.

She stressed that the consequences of these experiences are not linked only to mental health, but also affect social and economic aspects of life. According to her, tackling the problem requires the engagement of several sectors, not only health services.

The report notes that continuous exposure to stress during childhood can affect brain development, emotional regulation and the way the body reacts to stress.

The impact is particularly evident among young people who have experienced four or more adverse experiences. They more often reported physical pain or discomfort, difficulties in daily activities, and problems with mobility and self-care.

According to the data, 76.3% of young people with four or more adverse experiences felt they had needed professional mental health support during the past year. Among those who had reported no such experience, the figure was 36.7%.

However, the report raises another concern: the young people most exposed to harmful experiences were also more likely to state that they had not received the mental health support they felt they needed.