Tragedy of Tormented Teenagers: Mental Illness Hits One in Four

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Many young Australians suffer from mental illness and are exposed to serious risk of harm. It is found that more than one in four teenagers suffer a mental illness and most are not identified or treated (Mcdougall, 2013). Mental illness is the largest risk factor that causes suicidal behaviour and serious psychological distress in young people (Australian Government, 2013). According to Mcdougall (2013), the life expectancy for people with mental illness is 15 to 20 year lower than other Australians. Child and adolescent psychologist Carr-Gregg, states that despite of high prevalence of suicide, 80 per cent of adolescents with mental illness do not acknowledge the illness and remain untreated (as cited in Mcdougall, 2013). In the context of the impact of mental illness upon young Australians, this essay will analyse the factors that interfere with early diagnosis and prompt treatment, and seek for the measures to promote the mental health of the young.

Adolescence is a stressful period for most of adolescents and young people become vulnerable to mental illness during this time. During this transitional period towards independent adulthood, adolescents experience physical changes with the onset of puberty as well as cognitive, emotional and social development (McGorry & Goldstone, 2011). Adolescents face massive changes in their life and stress is created when new demands exceed their capacity to cope (Cohen, Tottenham & Casey, 2013). According to Shonkoff et al. (2009), moderate amount of stress can act as a protective factor which helps adolescents to adapt themselves in responding to those challenges (as cited in Cohen, Tottenham & Casey, 2013). However, if the stress is prolonged, it depletes the resources to deal with anxiet...

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...d from http://www.aifs.gov.au/afrc/pubs/issues/issues4/issues4.pdf

Sawyer, M. G., Arney, F. M., Baghurst, P. A., Clark, J. J., Graetz, B. W., Kosky, R. J., Nurcombe, B., Patton, G. C., Prior. M. R., Raphael, B., Rey, J., Whaites, L. C., & Zubrick, S. R. (2000). Mental Health of Young People in Australia: Child and Adolescent Component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealth.gov.au

Sartorius, N., & Schulze, H. (2005). Reducing the stigma of mental illness: A report from a global association (1st ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Yap, M. B. H., Reavley, N. J., & Jorm, A. F. (2013). Associations between stigma and help-seeking intentions and beliefs: Findings from an Australian national survey of young people. Psychiatry Research, 210, 1154–1160. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2013.08.029

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