Impact of child labour on mental health

Child labour remains a worrying global phenomenon, affecting millions of children, particularly in contexts of poverty, crises, and the informal economy. Beyond its physical and educational consequences, child labour has deep and lasting impacts on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of the children concerned. Early exposure to arduous, hazardous, or abusive working conditions increases the risks of chronic stress, anxiety, depression, psychological trauma, and hinders children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development. Yet the mental health dimension remains insufficiently integrated into policies and programmes aimed at combating child labour. This thematic session aims to create a space for reflection, exchange, and capacity-building around the links between mental health, child protection, and child labour, in order to promote more holistic and child-centred responses.

Interpretation is not available for the online broadcast.