A microscopic view of the youth bulge reveals its fractures. Whether it is a girl jumping from a hostel balcony, a candidate sobbing on a bench outside a classroom, a boy locking himself in before an exam, a bright student disappearing into silence, or someone escaping reality through drugs — all of these point to the most urgent question: are our young people well?

Pakistan is one of the youngest countries in the world. Two-thirds of our population is under 30. Nearly 63 million people are between 15 and 29 — the largest youth cohort in our history. This generation will define Pakistan’s economic productivity, political stability and social cohesion. Yet these statistics are overshadowed by a growing mental health crisis.

Today’s Pakistani student grows up in a climate of relentless pressure. Academic competition is brutal. University admissions are scarce. Scholarships are limited. Jobs are even fewer. Every year, millions enter a labour market that cannot absorb them.

The World Bank estimates that over a third of those aged 15 to 24 are not in employment, education or training. Gallup data shows millions of young people are neither studying nor........

© The Nation