Youth Depression and Anxiety Are on the Rise, and It Can Be Hard to Know How to Offer Support. Here Two Experts Share Tools for Helping Teens Through the Difficult Times
It’s well documented that anxiety and depression rates are on the rise in Australia, New Zealand and much of the developed world, but it’s not just among adults – it’s a worrying trend that’s affecting young people as well. Regardless of age, gender or economic status, the number of teens experiencing mental health issues is soaring.
Australian health charity Beyond Blue says research suggests three in four adult mental health conditions emerge by age 24, and half by age 14. The organisation estimates that one in 35 young Australians aged between four and 17 experience a depressive disorder, and in the same age bracket, one in 14 people experienced an anxiety disorder in 2015. That’s the equivalent of approximately 278,000 young people in Australia battling anxiety issues in a year, and experts say on a global scale, mental health concerns are set to become the world’s biggest health pandemic by 2020.
So how do you support a young person who is struggling with issues such as depression or anxiety, or just the stresses of modern life? We talked to authors Nicole Gibson and Megan Street, both in their 20s themselves, who are leading the charge to end the prevailing stigma and engage teens in meaningful talk about mental health.
Feeling the pressure
Ask Melbourne-based high school teacher Megan Street what she thinks is helping to drive mental health stats through the roof, and she doesn’t take long to come up with an answer. Social media, she believes, is a key factor behind body image issues and low self-esteem among many teens, especially girls.
This story is from the May 2018 edition of Good Health Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2018 edition of Good Health Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unwind your MIND
DOES YOUR BRAIN SWITCH TO YOUR NEVER-ENDING TO-DO LIST WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO RELAX? TRUDIE MCCONNOCHIE LOOKS AT WHY THIS HAPPENS AND HOW TO PREVENT IT
True Health
FITNESS INSTRUCTOR NATS LEVI TALKS TO ERIN FISHER ABOUT UNREALISTIC BODY IMAGE GOALS AND THE HEALTH SCARE THAT PUT AN END TO HER EXCESSIVE EXERCISING
To the point
ACUPUNCTURE HAS BEEN USED IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. ERIN FISHER LOOKS AT HOW IT CAN BE USED TODAY AS A PATHWAY TO A HEALTHIER BODY AND MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Sonia regains her sparkle
SINCE HER STRICTLY BALLROOM BREAKOUT ROLE TO PRIME-TIME TV PRESENTER, SONIA KRUGER HAS COME FULL CIRCLE. SHE TALKS TO PAUL EWART ABOUT DANCING AS MEDITATION, OVERCOMING ANXIETY AND BECOMING A MUMLATER IN LIFE
Gifts of gratitude
MONIQUE MCKENZIE EXPLAINS THAT OUR GRATITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS AFFECTS HOW WE SEE OUR LIVES, AND HAS SOME IDEAS TO SHOW THOSE WE KNOW, AND DON’T KNOW, OUR APPRECIATION
The Naked Chef Bares All
British food hero Jamie Oliver talks to Paul Ewart about his recent weight loss, struggle to find balance and his mission to inspire healthy eating
Breaking Through
From battling the bulge to dealing with professional burnout, Australia’s first lady of comedy, julia morris, opens up to paul ewart about the newfound health revelations shaking up her life
From Nature To Plate
Michelle Grant is committed to educating others about sustainable food consumption. She talks to erin fisher about what we can all do to lead a positive change
Cocktails With A Twist
At Andrea Waters’ London-based bar, you can drink as many cocktails as you please without suffering the next day. She tells Erin Fisher about her vegan and alcohol-free establishment
Calm Within The Chaos
Our busy editor-in-chief Nicky Dewe travels to India and discovers how our mental, physical, and spiritual health are all connected
