WAGGA’S teens have been surveyed in a state-wide study that has revealed alcohol and drugs, discrimination and mental health are the top concerns in their lives.
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In total, 7,087 young people aged 15 to 19 years were polled from across New South Wales in Mission Australia’s annual Youth Survey 2016.
Results indicated that pills and booze were at the forefront of concerns for those living in regional areas like Wagga, while city goers were more concerned with equality and discrimination.
About 35 per cent of recipients cited alcohol and drugs as the leading issue, while 24 per cent said mental health was the number one concern for youths.
Mental health entered the top three issues for the first time in the 15 year history of the study.
Concerns about mental health have reportedly doubled since 2011.
Consistent with the results, the top three issues of personal concern for NSW’s young people were coping with stress, school or study problems and body image.
State director of Mission Australia, Ben Carblis, said he was particularly worried that young people in NSW highlighted mental health as a major factor for youth.
“While we are seeing that NSW’s young people are highlighting mental health as a concern for Australia, we also see mental health concerns reflected for local young people on a personal level with stress, school and study problems and body image as the top three issues,” he said.
“These results point to the need for a more coordinated, comprehensive and cohesive national and localised plan so that we can ensure we are delivering the right programs to the young people who need them most.
Some Mission Australia staff report seeing children as young as eight with suicidal thoughts and there is often limited access to the necessary supports, particularly in regional and rural areas.
“We must also really question how early we are starting to provide mental health services,” Mr Carblis said.
The findings didn’t come as a surprise to 18-year-old Jessica Laurel, who while she didn’t participate in the survey, agrees with the results.
“I definitely think drugs and mental health would be the main two for people who are around this age and going out lots, trying new things,” she said,
“We know there are so many people having problems with both of them, and they go hand in hand together to destroy lives.
“It shows there’s still so much more work to be done, especially in regional areas.”
If you or anybody you know is struggling with mental health issues, please call a counsellor at Lifeline on 13 11 14.
