Mental health and mental ill-health in young people

Elizabeth KempHunter Institute of Mental Health

Hunter Institute of Mental Health

Hunter Institute of Mental Health is a leading national organisation dedicated to reducing mental illness and suicide and improving wellbeing for all Australians.

For more than 20 years we have been delivering successful, evidence-based mental health and suicide prevention programs from our base in Newcastle, NSW.

Overview

• Key terms:

– Mental health

– Mental ill-health (mental health problems & mental illness)

• Prevalence:

– Mental ill-health

• Key issues for young people

• Help seeking

• Questions.

What is mental health?“…a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own

abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

(WHO, 2004, p. 12)

• Mental health

= positive capacity

= social and emotional wellbeing

= behaviour, thoughts and emotions

≠ mental ill-health

≠ happiness.

What does mental health look like?

• Capacity

• Skills

• Ability

Why is mental health and wellbeing important?

• Healthier lifestyles

• Better physical health

• Improved recovery from illness

• Fewer limitations in daily living

• Higher educational attainment

• Greater productivity

• Greater employment and earnings

• Better relationships

• Increased social cohesion

• Improved quality of life.

Mental ill-health

Mental ill-health refers to the spectrum of problems that

interferes with an individual’s cognitive, social and

emotional abilities including both ‘mental health problems’

and ‘mental illnesses’.

• Mental health problems: a disruption to our usual level

of social and emotional wellbeing

• Mental illness: a clinically diagnosable medical condition

such as anxiety or depression.

Mental illness in adults

• Each year in the Australia adult population:

– 20% of people will experience a mental illness

– 14% will experience an anxiety disorder

– 6% will experience depression

– Many people have more than one diagnosis

• 45% of people will experience a mental illness at some time during their life.

More information: www.sane.org

Mental ill-health in Australian youth

Young Minds Matter Survey (2015)

www.youngmindsmatter.org.au

• 1 in 7, 4 – 17 year olds had a mental health problem in the previous 12 months = 560,000 children

• Prevalence rates stable but illnesses have changed:

• in ADHD

• in depression

• Prevalence in families where other risk factors are present: parental unemployment; sole parent families.

Mental illness in children and young people

• Highest prevalence of mental illness is in young people 12 – 17 years

• Depression and anxiety are the most common forms of mental illness in young people

– 1 in 13 children aged 11 – 17 years meet diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorders

– For girls aged 16 – 17 years this is 1 in 5.

Self-harm and suicide

In last 12 months for young people 12 – 17 years:

• 1 in 12 had self-harmed

– Girls (16 - 17 years = 1 in 6)

• 1 in 13 had seriously considered suicide

• 1 in 40 had attempted suicide

– Girls 16 - 17 years, 1 in 7 considered suicide

– 1 in 20 attempted suicide

Key issues facing young people• Bullying

• Gender identity

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI)

• Transitioning from childhood to adolescence:

– Brain and physical changes

– Social and emotional changes

– Puberty and mental health

– Early onset puberty.

• Groups at increased risk of mental ill-health:

– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing

– Child abuse and mental health

– Children with additional needs

– Multicultural issues and mental health

– Rural and remote communities.

Fact sheets and podcasts: www.responseability.org/home/fact-sheets-and-podcasts

It’s ok to ask for help

Help-seeking is a skill and strength.

Encourage others to reach out for support when they need it:

• Friends, Family, GP, Psychologist

• Kids Helpline

– 24-hour telephone counselling 1800 55 1800

– Webchat and email options www.kidshelpline.com.au

Summary• Key terms: mental health, mental

ill-health (mental health problems and mental illness)

• Mental ill-health is common

• Mental illness is a medical condition like physical illness

• Help seeking is a skill which can be encouraged and learnt

• There are a lot of places people can access for help.

Further information• Response Ability: www.responseability.org

• SANE Australia: www.sane.org

• beyondblue: www.beyondblue.org.au

• Kids Helpline: www.kidshelpline.com.au

• ReachOut: www.au.reachout.com

• Youth Mental Health First Aid: www.mhfa.com.au/cms/youth-course-information

• headspace: www.headspace.org.au

Questions ???