Mental Health issues for young people:
> In every Year 12 classroom, 7 young people have a mental health difficulty, but only 2 seek professional help. 1 young person will have attempted suicide.[1]
> 75% of mental illness begins before age 25 [2]
> Intentional self-harm / suicide is the second most common cause for death and injury among young people aged 12-24 (27%), only exceeded by transport accidents (45%). [3]
> Almost 75% of all intentional self-harm deaths among young people are males (2.7 times the rate of females) [3]
> Overall rates of youth suicide have declined by 56% since 1997, with 244 deaths in 2006.[4]
> At the same time, however, more young people experience high to very high levels of psychological distress (13% of males, compared to 7% in 1997; 19% of females, compared to 13% in 1997) [3]
> When including moderate psychological stress, the figures jump to 40% males and 51% females.[3]
> At the same time, the Internet offers new opportunities for young people to connect and find support:
>>In 2006-7, 90% of 18-24 year-olds and 92% of 15-17 year-olds used the internet[5]
>>Between 1998 and 2007 the proportion of households with Internet access quadrupled from 16% in 1998 to 64% in 2007 [5]
>>Young people are 2-6 times more likely to go online than call a helpline, visit a school counsellor, or see a doctor, minister or “someone else in the community”.[6]
[1] Sawyer et al, 2000[2] Kendall and Kessler, 2002[3] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007[4] ABS 2006[5] ABS 2007[6] Mission Australia Youth Report 2007
