Adolescence is the focus of school years from childhood to adulthood, showing immense physical, emotional and social changes. In Bangladesh (and elsewhere), adolescents face unique challenges that can obstruct their growth and well-being. Like the other four years, three dominant challenges are growth and development, educational pressures, sequela of childhood illness and mental health.
Challenges of Growth and Development
In Bangladesh, adolescents may face challenges in growth and development because of poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare, and social pressures. In terms of nutrition, many teenagers are stunted and not getting necessary vitamins and minerals. UNICEF says almost 30% adolescents in Bangladesh are talking anaemia that hampers their cognitive growth and physical health. Early marriage and gender-based discrimination impede the natural growth of many young girls, which combined with long hours of work, leaves no room for education and personal development.
Educational Pressures
Education is a fundamental human right, yet many young people in Bangladesh are subject to crippling academic pressures. This examination system is difficult and has so many exams and not even enough feedback, especially in the rural areas. Many teenagers must balance studies with part-time work to help support their families, resulting in high dropout rates, especially for girls. Furthermore, being an outlier when it comes to education, digitized resources make it even more difficult for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to be exposed to the same quality of education and combat an ever-growing technological gap.
Chronic Childhood Illnesses and Mental Health Issues
Even though there is a growing awareness on issues relating to Bangladeshi adolescents, childhood illnesses such as respiratory infections, malnutrition-related diseases, and dengue fever continue to take a toll on them. Thousands of families do not have access to healthcare facilities, and if they do, it is at a basic level, and the intervention comes late. And they are more likely to face mental health problems, driven by the stresses of academic life, social burden, and financial struggles. Adolescent depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are still heavily stigmatised, and few young people seek help. The crisis is compounded by a shortage of trained mental health professionals, contributing to the silence of many struggling adolescents.
Conclusion
Tackling these three key barriers, namely the challenges to growth and development, education and continued disease burden, coupled with mental health needs, will require a multifaceted effort. Only the collective efforts of the government, NGOs, and community organisations can ensure that there exists proper nutrition, accessible education, and improved healthcare services. Creating a supportive environment for adolescents will help Bangladesh build a healthier and more resilient generation.