beyondblue

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For the seventh year, Youthbeyondblue is proud to be a major sponsor of National Youth Week 2012. Through partnerships with National Youth Week event organisers in all Australian states and territories, beyondblue, the national depression and anxiety initiative will raise awareness of depression and anxiety among young people and the importance of seeking help.

Around 1 in 4 young people aged 16 to 24 experience mental health problems during adolescence.  Over 75 per cent of Australian adolescents with serious mental health problems do not seek help from health services. Young people are, however, talking to their mates. That’s why it’s important to Look for the signs of depression and anxiety, Listen to their friends’ experiences, Talk about what’s going on and if necessary, Seek help together.

During National Youth Week 2012, Youthbeyondblue encourages young people to Look, Listen, Talk and Seek help together!

From the Chairman of beyondblue, The Hon. Jeff Kennett AC:
“Youth Week is a good time to think about supporting young people who may be feeling worried and stressed. I urge all young people to learn about the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and look for those signs in themselves, their friends and family members.”

For more information on depression, anxiety and Youthbeyondblue, head to www.youthbeyondblue.com or call the beyondblue Info line on 1300 22 4646.

Statistics and Facts  

• Around 160,000 young people (aged 16 to 24 years) live with depression.*
• Depression and anxiety can be as serious, debilitating and life-threatening as a physical illness – yet less than half of those experiencing depression seek help.*
• Adolescence is a critical time for mental health and it is estimated that 75 per cent of adult mental health disorders begin in adolescence. ^
• The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that about one in four Australians aged 16 to 24 years had a mental health disorder in the preceding 12 months.* 
• Some of the reasons young people don’t seek help are a desire to fix things on their own, feeling ashamed or embarrassed, a fear of not being understood by health professionals and worry about financial costs or time constraints.
• Among the main issues of concern for young people are body image, family conflict, bullying and emotional abuse, coping with stress and depression.^
• Young members of beyondblue’s  reference group, blueVoices, state that they are also concerned about the high likelihood that depression will go unnoticed, a lack of mental health services, difficulty in seeking help and the stigma associated with depression and anxiety.

* Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008). 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of results (4326.0). Canberra: ABS. The survey was conducted between August and December 2007.

^ Mission Australia (2010). 2009 Mission Australia National Survey of Young Australia, Snapshot insights into the concerns of young Australians: making sense of the numbers. Macquarie Group Foundation. NSW, Australia.