Moldova's Youth Facing Serious Challenges: What's Being Done?

In Moldova, young people are dealing with some tough issues. Recently, over 80 psychologists and volunteers gathered to talk about two major problems: teen pregnancies and mental health struggles. The numbers are pretty shocking. Every year, around 1, 200 girls under 18 become mothers. And guess what? Most of these cases, about 80%, happen in rural areas. Experts say this shows a big need for better sex education and easy-to-access counseling for teens. Mental health is another big worry. About one in three teens often feel irritable or moody, and one in four shows signs of anxiety. These are serious red flags that can't be ignored. During the workshop, the focus was on how to help teens open up and talk about tough stuff, like abuse or suicidal thoughts. They also learned how schools can play a big role in preventing teen pregnancies and suicides. The main goal is clear: to protect and support young people. Everyone should have a safe place to grow up, with access to free and confidential mental health support. This workshop was part of a bigger program supported by Sweden. The program aims to spread human rights initiatives across the Nistru River, including the separatist region of Transnistria.