Kids oppressed by poverty and bullying

Photo: Elmo Riig / Sakala

As revealed by collection of articles titled Wellbeing of Children, a tenth of children in Estonia live in absolute poverty; in school bullying, we are at European top; and every tenth teen is thinking about taking own life.

Of the financial blow by the 2007 economic crisis, families with children have never really recovered. In 2011, 9.5 per cent of those under 18 in Estonia lived in absolute poverty i.e. financial lack endangering health and coping: all together, 23,000 kids.

During 2007 to 2010, numbers of children in absolute poverty significantly increased, from six to 11 per cent. Since 2011, the figures have been in decline; even so, still exceeding the 2007 levels. 

School kids constantly tired

As at 2011, 17 per cent of children in Estonia lived in relative poverty, another 7.7 per cent facing risk of poverty. At the same time, our situation is better than the European average of 20.5 per cent of children living in relative poverty.

While, in availability of education, Estonia stands out as an example, the joy is spoilt by bullying and constant tiredness. During the couple of months preceding the poll, 41 per cent of the children had experienced bullying. According to 2009 data for Europe, the situation was worse only in Lithuania, Latvia and Romania.

In Estonia, bullying victims are most numerous among boys aged 11 (27 per cent), least such cases are reported among girls aged 15 (nine per cent). Most often, bullying befalls kids from poorer families, those weaker academically, of poorer health, and such as suffer from sadness.

A major problem, for students, is tiredness – over half of the kids are tired even as they head for school, in the morning. Among those battling tiredness, depression is more abundant; they have a lower esteem of their health and are more stressed that those that feel rested. One reason for school fatigue is the fact that, in more than a third of grades, tests are also done in the first and final classes of the day.

Of health problems, Estonia’s kids are most plagued by troubles with eyesight (last year, complained by 20 per cent of students), bad body posture (17 per cent) and overweight (11 per cent). At that, as compared to 2005, numbers of overweight kids have almost doubled: back then, the percentage was 6.6.

Obesity is, partly, related to only 14 per cent of children aged 11 to 15 get an hour’s worth of physical movement, daily, as required for normal development. As compared to 2006, the indicator has considerably worsened. According to statistics, children from richer families are in better shape, physically.

Sexual behaviour safe

Among teens, a large amount of mental problems also strikes the eye: among Tallinn school children aged 14 to 15, two percent have tried to take their own lives; over Estonia, a tenth of kids aged 13-15 are having suicidal thoughts. In that age group, percentage of depression is the same.

Suicidal thoughts are more common with those who smoke, consume alcohol, are involved in fights, and encounter school bullying; the link is especially strong among girls.

Despite the trouble spots, the Wellbeing of Children collection also points out some positives: in Estonia, education and most health care services come free of charge; sexual behaviour of youth has become safer with less cases of HIV infection and pregnancies of minors; in their own estimation, kids have more say in decisions related to their homes, families, and free time.

Also: over the past eight years, numbers of child prisoners and children studying in closed specialised schools is down by more than a half.