Depression: The Leading Cause of Suicide

Depression is a wide spread condition that effects all types of people in Australia; regardless of age, gender or socio economic status (SANE & Gov. Vic 2013). However, studies have shown that the highest rates of incidence in Australia occur in the late teens (Hankin et al.) Whilst depression itself can be debilitating in many ways, the most serious outcome of depression is suicide (Headspace 2013). With Adolescents who battle depression facing the highest risk of suicide in Australia (Spirito 2006), there is an understandable cause for concern. The reality of depression is that it is treatable, and as such, governments and public health organisations are attempting to reduce rates of depression and the burden it has on society (National Mental Health Strategy 2008).

Mental illness can be debilitating for someone of any age, and the youth of Australia are no exception (Headspace 2013). One only needs to look at the leading causes of death amongst Australians aged 15-24 to see that mental illness is a major burden on society. Despite effective treatments available for sufferers of depression, this affliction is the leading cause of suicide (Spirito 2006) and in 2008 was the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 24 (AIHW 2013). However, mortality is only a small part of a much bigger problem. A recent study by the Australian Government’s major mental health service for youth, headspace, showed that 25% of Australians between the ages of 12 – 25 experience a mental health issue in any 12-month period, with depression and anxiety the most common (Rickwood et al. 2013). When compared to the general population, Australian youth are 5% more likely to experience a mental health issue in a 12-month period (Ri...

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