Everybody feels down sometimes, and if you’re feeling that way, you’re not alone. In fact, suicide remains the biggest killer of young Australians, ahead of all other causes.
In 2013, 350 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 ended their own lives – that’s almost one a day, and more than twice the number who died on the roads, as drivers and passengers.
Worryingly, however, a new study from beyondblue has found that four out of five Aussie teenagers are afraid to seek help for depression and anxiety, because they’re concerned about what others might think.
Of the 600 teens surveyed, aged between 13 and 17, an even more worrying two out of five said that they would not seek support because they believe nothing can help them.
With this in mind, beyondblue have launched a brand new campaign, Brains Can Have A Mind Of Their Own, with a view to empowering young Aussies who may be feeling the strain to take some action.
The first of the ads, which launched yesterday and which simply and clearly lay out some of the symptoms of depression and anxiety, can be seen here:
If you reckon you’re experiencing some of these, there’s also a website, Youth Beyond Blue, where you can take a quiz to assess your mental health, and get advice on some steps you can take.
“Unfortunately, too many young people hesitate to speak up when they are struggling, often because they
are worried how others will perceive them,” beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett said.
“This campaign aims to show teenagers that experiencing
depression or anxiety doesn’t mean they are weak or weird, it simply means that their mind is giving them
a hard time, but there’s something they can do about it.”
“Being a teenager is challenging enough without having to struggle with mental health issues,” Kennett continued.
“It’s important
for young people (and those around them) to consider their mental health, because having good mental
health will make it easier for them to get on with growing up and be resilient as they navigate life into
adulthood.”
If you feel like you need to talk or get some into, call the beyondblue Support Service 24/7 – 1300 22 4636 or go to beyondblue’s website to chat online (3PM-midnight AEST) or email.
