One in Five Out-of-School Youth Report Suicidal Thoughts

One in five (21.1%) young people who have dropped out of school reported having considered ending their own lives within the past year. Three in ten (31.1%) out-of-school youth experienced depression severe enough to interfere with daily life over the past two weeks. The most cited reason for leaving school was 'psychological/mental health issues,' accounting for 32.4%.

More than one in three (35.1%) out-of-school youth reported experiencing social isolation, meaning they had not engaged in external activities.

Regarding difficulties in career planning, the most common response was 'I don't know how to plan my career,' at 42.4%.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (Ministry of Women and Family) is implementing customized programs through career aptitude tests, vocational training, and the development of AI curricula to enhance the career paths and capabilities of out-of-school youth. It is also progressively expanding support regions for isolated and secluded youth.