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.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
New research, by the University of Melbourne, Orygen and headspace revealed 26 per cent of young Australians aged 12–25 would not tell anyone about a personal mental health issue.
It also showed 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 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 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.
We are inviting everyone across the country to join us on our new digital hub, launching on 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
The more we share, the more we talk, the more we tear the big stigma down.
