Clinical Depression. Credit: Julianne.hide/flickr
By Rich Bowden
The Australian Government has acknowledged the risks to Australian teenagers’ health and wellbeing in a report released today.
The snapshot study, titled “The State of Australia’s Young People: a report on the social, economic, heath and family lives of young people” (see report here), was commissioned by the Federal Government and written by a team of researchers from the Social Policy Research Centre.
It outlined high rates of obesity and mental illness and showed how teenagers have increased vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse.
The report found one in four teenagers are overweight or obese with a similar number living with a mental illness. It also found one in three sexually active young people had reported experiencing unwanted sex.
Attitude to alcohol
Lead author of the study Dr Kristy Muir, told the ABC that teenagers casual attitude to alcohol was creating a dangerous health situation in young people.
“Young people seem to generally feel that taking alcohol is a lot safer, yet they have the highest rates of hospitalisation from alcohol use,” she said.
Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, who launched the report today, spoke of the study outlining “serious risks” to young people.
Kate Ellis MP. Credit: Tiger321
“Most young people are well-educated, have close relationships with their families and friends and contribute to society through study, work and volunteering. But the report also shows that there are serious risks to their health, safety and wellbeing,” Ms Ellis said.
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This article is SPOT ON, especially towards the attitude towards alcohol.
My friends are all ADDICTED to alcohol in fact which is going to pose a huge health problem in the future.
Ms Ellis's insights to young people is great and it's about time for some public awareness for young teenagers for a brighter future…
Mark Derulo
Wichita, KS
Alcoholism is a major problem concerning youth not only in Australia but across the world. Every government should take measures to address this societal problem.
"Most teenagers" has little meaning out of any and all context. In any socio-economic strata, there are teens who struggle with terrible situations: parents using drugs or alcohol, domestic violence, emotional abuse, and its much more common than most realize. Sadly, parents participate and do not protect their children and teens from this form of violence and trauma and, as a result, the next generation perpetuates the problems.
As we can recognize the true problems, we can move to slow them down and work at helping teens understand and grow away from the negative influences. Only then will they be able to have what all of us deserve: a fair chance at success and healthy relationships.
Teenagers nowadays…do..such foolishness like that they usually do things like that!!that's the reason they have a poor health..drink alcohol..well..how can we limit them from doing this kind of foolishness?how?…I really don't know at all..cant they have fun without alcohol?..can't they enjoy without alcohol?
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This post does not come as a suprise to me, being an Australian myself. I've seen kids who are not of legal age, go in and out of bars and drinking alcohol like there's no tomorrow.
Ironically, despite the fact that they are well-educated, they can't seem to understand the dangers that they are exposed to – and that includes danger attributed to thinking that they can deal easily with alcohol.
This is not just common to Australian kids. It's actually common to practically every teenager or young people these days. It's common everywhere which is of course a bit sad to say the least.
“Most young people are well-educated, have close relationships with their families and friends and contribute to society through study, work and volunteering. But the report also shows that there are serious risks to their health, safety and wellbeing,” Ms Ellis said.
I'm confused. That sounds like all the right things, educated, close to family and friends, etc, yet there are serious risks to their health, safety and wellbeing. How is this happening and what should parents, like myself, do to help their children avoid the risks?