We are not lazy. We are exhausted. And sport is the answer Romania keeps ignoring.
I am 17 years old. I train four times a week, I sit on the UNICEF Romania Children's Board, I coach younger kids at my school, and I still know teenagers around me who are quietly falling apart.
Not because they are weak. Because nobody gave them a team.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven adolescents globally experiences a mental health disorder. In Romania, youth mental health services remain critically underfunded. We prescribe silence, or waiting lists, or shame.
Other countries chose differently.
In Norway, the Active School program integrated daily physical movement into the school curriculum — not as PE class, but as a structural response to rising anxiety and disengagement among students. Results showed measurable improvements in concentration, emotional regulation, and sense of belonging.
In the United Kingdom, Sport England partnered with Mind — one of the country's leading mental health charities — to connect young people experiencing mental health difficulties with community sport programs. The data showed that regular physical activity reduced feelings of isolation and improved self-reported wellbeing significantly.
Sport does not replace therapy. But it builds the resilience that makes everything else possible.
To Romanian authorities, educators, and decision-makers reading this: the solution is not complicated. Fund sport in schools. Train coaches to recognize distress. Make movement part of mental health policy — not an afterthought.
To every teenager who feels invisible: I see you. Sport gave me discipline, community, and a reason to show up every day. It can do the same for you.
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people." — Nelson Mandela
I am Nicholas Carstoiu. I am your voice, and I am not stopping until someone listens.
Am 17 ani. Ma antrenez de patru ori pe saptamana, fac parte din Consiliul Copiilor UNICEF Romania, antrenez copii mai mici la scoala mea si totusi — in jurul meu, adolescenti se destrama in tacere.
Nu pentru ca sunt slabi. Ci pentru ca nimeni nu le-a dat o echipa.
Organizatia Mondiala a Sanatatii estimeaza ca unul din sapte adolescenti din lume se confrunta cu o tulburare de sanatate mintala. In Romania, serviciile de sanatate mintala pentru tineri raman cronic subfinantate. Le oferim tacere, liste de asteptare sau rusine.
Alte tari au ales altfel.
In Norvegia, programul Active School a integrat miscarea fizica zilnica in structura orelor — nu ca ora de sport, ci ca raspuns concret la anxietatea si dezangajarea crescande in randul elevilor. Rezultatele au aratat imbunatatiri masurabile in concentrare, reglare emotionala si sentiment de apartenenta.
In Marea Britanie, Sport England a colaborat cu organizatia Mind — unul dintre cei mai importanti actori in sanatate mintala din tara — pentru a conecta tinerii cu dificultati emotionale la programe sportive comunitare. Datele au aratat ca activitatea fizica regulata a redus semnificativ sentimentul de izolare si a imbunatatit starea de bine raportata de participanti.
Sportul nu inlocuieste terapia. Dar construieste rezilienta care face posibil orice altceva.
Catre autoritatile romane, educatori si decidenti care citesc acest mesaj: solutia nu este complicata. Finantati sportul in scoli. Pregatiti antrenorii sa recunoasca suferinta. Faceti din miscare o componenta a politicii de sanatate mintala — nu o nota de subsol.
Catre fiecare adolescent care se simte invizibil: te vad. Sportul mi-a dat disciplina, comunitate si un motiv sa ma prezint in fiecare zi. Poate face acelasi lucru si pentru tine.
" Sportul are puterea de a schimba lumea. Are puterea de a inspira, puterea de a uni oamenii." — Nelson Mandela
Sunt Nicholas Carstoiu. Sunt vocea ta, si nu ma opresc pana cand cineva nu asculta cu adevarat.
Originally published on LinkedIn.Publicat inițial pe LinkedIn.
