Mental Health of Young Australians, Focused on Depression in 12-24 Years Olds and Variations of the Disease in Young Australians.

Assignment 3: Mental health of young Australians, Focused on depression in 12-24 years olds and variations of the disease in young Australians. Part 1: Epidemiology of depression In Australia the third leading disability burden on the country are mental disorders accounting for almost 30% of the total years lost due to disabilities (1). In 2007 among young Australians mental health problems and disorders account for the largest burden of disease in the age bracket 12-24 year olds. (2) Of anxiety, depression and substance disorders depression accounted for almost a quarter (24%) of all cases in this age group. (2) Depression is used to describe ‘transient states of low mood experienced by people at sometime in their life through severe psychiatric disorders’ (3). Depression is a serious illness, people feel low, sad and hopeless intensely for long periods of time and without reason (4). Depression can lead to isolation and reclusive behaviors making it extremely hard for people to participate in normal everyday activities (4). For young Australians to be withdrawing from society at such a young age is a worrying factor as all these individuals are valuable to the community. Within this age bracket young people are more vulnerable to depression from 14-16 year of age to 24 (2), Developing from a teenager to a young adult is sometimes an extremely stressful part of life and can cause many individuals huge difficulty. Although mental health disorders are the leading burden of disease in young people the mortality rates are quite hard to quantify. A symptom associated with depression is thoughts of sadness and worthlessness leading to thoughts of self harm (4). The leading cause of death associated with depression is young people taking their own life and committing suicide (2). In 2007 10 per 100,000 15-24 year olds committed suicide (Table 1). Data associated

References: 1) Suicide and mental illness in the media [internet] 2012 [updated 2012; cited 2012 may 23] Available from URL: (http://www.mindframe-media.info/site/index.cfm?display=85541) 2) AIHW, Young Australians – Their Health and Wellbeing Table 1: AIHW, Young Australians – Their Health and Wellbeing. [Online]. 2011 [cited 2012 May 23 ]; Available from: URL: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737419259&libID=10737419258