Supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing

Thursday 16 October 2014

Dr Michelle Blanchard and Nurul PraharsoYoung and Well CRC

THE CHALLENGE

// The numbers• Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24

(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009).

• In an average Year 12 classroom, 1 young person has attempted suicide

(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007).

• Mental disorders affect 1 in 4 young Australians (Slade, 2009).

$17.5bn suicide (ConNetica Consulting,

2009).

$10.6bn mental illness (Access Economics, 2009).

$20.5bn reduced wellbeing (Access Economics, 2009).

// The cost

75% of mental illness emerges before age 25 (Kessler, 2005).

// The need

80% males and 70% females aged 16 to 24 do not seek help

(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008, National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Cat No 4326.0).

99% of young people are online daily (Young and Well National Survey, 2012).

$3.27bn mental illness in

men aged 12 to 25 (Degney, J et al, 2012).

Australian-based international research centre.

70+ partner organisations.

Researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and innovators across the academic, non-profit, government and corporate sectors.

Working in partnership with young people. Exploring new technologies to promote cybersafety, mental health and wellbeing.

Three research programs.

Part of the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program, tackling specific challenges requiring medium to long-term collaborative efforts.

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THE YOUNGAND WELL CRC

OURPROGRAMS

PROGRAM ONE //SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE

PROGRAM TWO //CONNECTED AND

CREATIVE

PROGRAM THREE //USER-DRIVEN AND

EMPOWERED

Building safe and supportive online environments, and providing strategies and tools that promote cybersafety, mental health and wellbeing in all young people.

Engaging vulnerable groups of young people, and overcoming the effects of social isolation.

Developing services for young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

INTRODUCING NURUL PRAHARSO

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// YOUNG AND WELL NATIONAL SURVEYS

YOUNG PEOPLE’S INTERNET USE

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Activities that could help or hinder mental health, by CATI type.

2008 headspace CATI

2012 Young and Well CRC CATI

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Frequency of hours young men aged 16 to 25 use the internet after 11pm, by level of psychological distress (N = 452)

// YOUNG AND WELL NATIONAL SURVEYS

Game On: Exploring the Impact of Technologies on Young Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing. Findings from the first Young and Well National Survey

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WHY SHOULD WE LOOK TO TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS?• We’re not making inroads to reach the 70% of young people with a mental

health problem who don’t receive care

• Technologies are a critical part of young people’s day to day experience.

• There is growing evidence of the efficacy and acceptability of technology-based interventions across promotion, prevention, early intervention and treatment

• These interventions can be more effective when used with the support* of a trained professional

• Technology-based interventions are cost effective

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@PPRECIATE A MATE

http://www.appreciateamate.com/

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THE TOOLBOX

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RECHARGE

1615/07/13

APPS AND TOOLS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

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LINK

Dr Michelle Blanchard // michelle@yawcrc.org.au

Technologies as part of an integrated youth mental health system will help

Australia to lead the way in youth mental health.