Exploring the Mental Health Challenges of Unemployment among Graduate Youth in District Lower Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Unemployment among graduate youth is a critical socio-economic issue in Pakistan with numerous implications for mental health. This study examines the impact of unemployment on the mental health of unemployed graduate youth in the Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It explores various strategies for maintaining their well-being. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences and perceptions of the participants through semi-structured interviews with 16 graduated youth through convenience sampling who graduated during the previous 5 years. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. Findings from the study revealed that prolonged unemployment contributes to low self-esteem, frustration, depression, anxiety, and feelings of social exclusion. Participants also describe intense family pressure, loss of social status, uncertainty about the future, and difficulty finding a job despite graduation. The study fills a significant research gap in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It offers various implications for policy makers, universities, and mental health practitioners to foster resilience and mitigate the psychosocial scaring of graduate unemployment.