New research has revealed more than a quarter of young Australians would not tell anyone if they had a mental health issue.
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The main reasons were embarrassment and fear of what other people would think – even the family doctor.
The study was funded by a National Health And Medical Research Council partnership grant to the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and Orygen: the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, in partnership with headspace.
A quarter of all Australians aged 12 – 25 experience mental health issues each year.
Chief investigator Professor Debra Rickwood, from headspace, said many would not seek the help they needed because of the associated stigma.
Twenty-six percent of young people would keep a mental health issue to themselves.
Fifty-two percent would be embarrassed to discuss it with anyone, and 49 percent 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,” professor Rickwood said.
Headspace chief medical officer Natalie Gray said spending time with and getting to know people affected by mental health issues was crucial to changing negative attitudes, reducing 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,” she said.
Fear of how his loved ones would perceive him stopped headspace youth advocate Charlie Cooper, 21, from seeking help for anxiety for more than a year.
“I worried about whether my family and friends would see me as ‘soft’, ‘incapable’ or ‘crazy’,” he said.
“As soon as I spoke up, I realised it was all around me – many of my closest friends were struggling with similar issues.
“It seems ridiculous now, but we really were struggling together in silence.”
He said his life had improved dramatically since he found the right help, and continued to do so.
A “Big Stigma” construction has been in place at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne all week to mark the start of the campaign.
An online hub will launch on Tuesday, June 14, on the Big Stigma website with resources and tools for friends and family seeking to support youth with mental health issues.
If you are aged 12 to 25 and having a tough time, contact headspace on 1800 650 890 or www.eheadspace.org.au For urgent help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
