Why Youth Mental Health Matters

One in four young people will experience a mental health issue at any time in the next 12 months.

In Australia between 20-25% of young people aged 12-17 and 25-40% of those aged 18-24 have mental health disorders. The development of mental health problems between the ages of 12 and 26 is therefore more likely than at any other stage of life.

Adolescence and early adulthood are crucial periods of physical, social, educational and vocational development, and the failure to recognise and treat mental illness can have lasting adverse effects in all these areas. Early intervention is required to minimise the impact of mental illness on a young person’s learning, growth and development, thus improving the health outcome of those affected by mental illness. Commitment to reform in the area of youth mental health must be a priority to ensure all young people affected by these disorders have access to timely, appropriate and engaging health services.