Assessment of the severity of anxiety, depression, substance use, and resilience of children and youths aged 10–24 years in the South West Region of Cameroon

INTRODUCTION

Many youths in Cameroon and in the South West region of the country face socio-economic hardships that have affected their mental health and resilience.

Main Objective: This study aimed at delving into these critical areas and explore the interplay between anxiety, depression, substance use, and resilience in the children and youth of the South West Region, Cameroon.

Materials and method: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted for a period of 14 months. Consecutive sampling was used to select the participants wherein peer educators with lived experience administered structured questionnaires to youths in other to assess the severity of anxiety, depression, substance use, and resilience using standardized WHO scales. Data obtained from the participants were coded, entered into a data collection form designed with Kobo collect tool then into Microsoft Excel 2016 and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 25.