Recent figures from the Mental Health Commission show a concerning 46 per cent of young females have suffered a mental health disorder between 2020 and 2022.
The percentage of people aged 16-24 years who experienced a mental health disorder has increased from 26 per cent in 2007 to 39 per cent between 2020 and 2022.
The increase over this time period is greatest for young females (from 29 per cent to 46 per cent) compared to young males (from 23 per cent to 32 per cent).
This year’s report highlights there has not been an improvement in mental health and wellbeing for people in Australia over the past decade or more, calling urgent action for assisting young people with mental health concerns and ensuring the right supports are in place.
These statistics make zero2hero’s work with young people more important than ever.
The youth suicide prevention charity held Western Australia's only youth mental health forum on Wednesday 14 August at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, which this year drew in a crowd of 900 people.
“With the huge increase in mental health issues among young people, it is now more important than ever for teenagers to be educated and empowered to positively manage their own mental health and support their peers to do the same. We’ve designed a youth forum that does just that,” zero2hero chief executive Ashlee Harrison said.
Factors that influence mental health and wellbeing such as financial stress, loneliness and discrimination are not improving, the report showed. In addition, there are signs that the mental health system is struggling to meet demand or improve experiences for people.
The annual one-day event, In Your Head, was born out of the idea to bring mental health education to young people, beyond mental health professionals and youth workers, aiming to provide young people and teachers with a greater understanding of adolescent mental health and practical skills to support their wellbeing.
“In one day, students learn more about mental health and wellbeing than most schools teach in an entire school year,” Ms Harrison said.
This year's event included health and wellbeing workshops, exhibitors such as Lifeline, The Push-Up Challenge and WA Aids Council, and a panel of keynote speakers including Dr Justin Coulson, co-host and parenting expert on Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance and host of Australia’s leading parenting podcast Happy Families.
Head of Wellbeing at the Fremantle Dockers, Angie Bain, who specialises in wellbeing and performance, having spent her career in elite sport as a counsellor and educator, was a keynote speaker at the event, while Fremantle Dockers AFLW player Emma O’Driscoll shared tips for performing under pressure and managing mental health in elite sport.
Also at the event helping to equip students with practical skills to help build resilience and perseverance was Nick Hudson, a leading voice in the mental health space and founder of Australia’s largest mental health online event, The Push-Up Challenge, which has raised $40 million for mental health.
Breakout sessions included LQBTQAI+ allyship education, managing stress through exercise, dance or drawing, sound healing, vaping education, and overall health and wellbeing education to help youth manage stress and anxiety and understand their emotions to be able to help themselves and their friends.
Run annually for the past seven years at PCEC, the event has impacted more than 7000 students since its inception, and will be back next year in August 2025.
zero2hero is a WA-based not-for-profit organisation committed to the prevention of suicide. Its vision is to empower young people to positively manage their own mental health and wellbeing and support others by providing programs that educate, engage, and empower young people to support and maintain their own mental health and prevent suicide in the community.
