Each year, a quarter of all young people in this country will experience mental health issues, however many of them will not seek the help that they need.
New research, by the University of Melbourne, Orygen and headspace has revealed that 26 per cent of young Australians aged 12 – 25 would not tell anyone about a personal mental health issue.
It also shows that 52 per cent of young people are too embarrassed to discuss a mental health problem with anyone and nearly half were afraid of what others would think.
The results also found that 22 per cent would be unlikely or very unlikely to discuss it with their family doctor.
Stigma plays a profound and significant role in stopping Australian youth from seeking help for mental health issues. It can make it harder to ask for help and get support out of fear of being judged.
Spending time and getting to know people impacted by mental health issues, hearing their stories and understanding their experiences helps to change negative attitudes, reduce fear and social distance.
The other is education – providing information and knowledge about mental health issues and the benefits of seeking help and seeking help early.
To combat stigma, headspace has launched a vital new National Awareness Campaign aimed at informing Australians that the more we talk openly about mental health issues, the easier it becomes for young people to seek help for them.
headspace constructed a Big Stigma in Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station that was visited by thousands of members of the public who have taken away a piece of the stigma – a panel from its outer shell containing information about mental health issues and how to seek help for them.
By doing so, everyone has helped top tear down the stigma, piece by piece, and keep the conversation about youth mental health alive.
We are inviting everyone across the country to join us on our new digital hub, launched Tuesday, June 14, complete with a virtual stigma to tear down, and links to resources and tools for friends and family seeking to support youth with mental health issues: www.thebigstigma.com.au
Please join us and help to break down the big stigma. The more we share, the more we talk, the more we tear it down.
- Chris Tanti (pictured), CEO, headspace
