According to the specialist, the actual number of such adolescents may be significantly higher, as not all of them are ready to acknowledge their problem and seek help.
Sagymbaeva noted that one of the reasons is the stigma associated with seeking psychiatric help. “Our department is part of a psychiatric hospital, and this creates a certain fear for parents. Even if a child decides to talk about their problem, parents may think: ‘My child cannot be sick’ or ‘If I take them there, they will be registered, and their future will be at risk.’ Therefore, many seek alternative ways to obtain help or completely ignore the problem,” she explained.
In addition, Sagymbaeva added that medical workers cannot provide assistance to minors without the consent of their legal representatives unless it is an emergency. “We are obliged to notify parents, and this can make children feel embarrassed, leading them to search for information on the internet,” she noted.
The specialist also mentioned that private rehabilitation centers do not provide data about their minor patients. “We cannot say exactly how many such centers exist, as not all of them are registered with the Ministry of Health. Some may obtain licenses as educational or social institutions. Moreover, many rehabilitation centers claim that they do not accept minors, although in reality, they still provide services to them,” Sagymbaeva added.
