Globally, childrens and adolescents mental health is becoming a more pressing public health issue. Socioeconomic hardship, restricted access to mental health services, and insufficient early detection of psychological issues exacerbate the burden in low- and middle-income countries like Zimbabwe. This chapter integrates general psychiatric conditions and psychological stressors related to school to investigate the prevalence, trends, and determinants of mental health issues affecting children and adolescents in Bindura District. The chapter uses conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literature to show how social environments, family dynamics, school pressures, cultural beliefs, and economic insecurity lead to an increase in behavioural disorders, depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance use, and academic stress. Case illustrations and narratives from the Bindura context show how these issues manifest within local schools, homes, and communities. The chapter goes on to apply the Social-Ecological Model and Cognitive-Behavioural Theory in analyzing how individual, interpersonal, institutional, and societal influences interactively shape mental health outcomes. Findings indicate that as mental health challenges surge, they remain poorly diagnosed and undertreated due to stigma, cultural silence, and resource limitations. The chapter concludes with recommendations based on school-based mental health programmes, community sensitization, early detection systems, and psychosocial support services targeting vulnerable children and adolescents.
Mukulaga et al. (Tue,) studied this question.