An overview to understanding the scale of the problem and why adolescence is a key time.
Mental health is a major issue of our times. One in four young people experience a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. For one in twenty, things get so overwhelming that they attempt to take their own life. Every year, suicide claims more young people than road accidents.
But it’s not just mental illness and suicide that are of concern. In fact, many more suffer from high distress because of issues such as bullying, exam stress, family problems or relationship breakups. While they might not (yet) have a diagnosable mental illness, these problems affect how young people feel, think, behave, and relate to others and themselves – essentially their entire being. More often than not they feel alone, embarrassed and unsure about how and where to seek help.
“Only one in three young people with a mental health disorder seek help,” says Jonathan Nicholas, CEO of the Inspire Foundation. “And for guys it’s even less, only one in five.”
As one young person put it, “young people look for help in places with the least confrontation, and the least discomfort.” An online youth mental health service like ReachOut.com makes it possible for them to find information and support from the safety of their own bedroom, any time of day and night.
Adolescence is a particularly critical time for making sure young people have the knowledge, skills and support networks they need to be able to bounce back from difficult times. It is a tumultuous time when the brain undergoes major changes and young people assert their independence and form their own identity, all the while facing many “firsts” (sex, drugs & alcohol, etc) and transitions (school / uni / work, moving out of home, etc).
“Seventy-five percent of all mental health disorders start before we are twenty-five,” says Nicholas. “That’s why it is so important that we get things right early on.”
If you are worried about a young person in your life, here are some things you can do:
- Make sure they know about ReachOut.com (you may also find the information on there helpful)
- Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24/7) or webchat at lifeline.org.au
- Call Suicide Call Back Service (24/7) or webchat at suicidecallbackservice.org.au
- Encourage the young person to talk to a GP or mental health professional (you can use beyondblue’s Find-a-Professional Tool)