Depression Among Young Women in Australia

Running head: DEPRESSION AMONG THE YOUNG WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA 1
Depression among the young women of Australia
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DEPRESSION AMONG THE YOUNG WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA 2
Introduction
Often, the term depressed is used by people when they are referring to periods of time
when they are experiencing sadness or when they are feeling down. Depression which is in most
cases diagnosed as a major depressive disorder is stated as the feelings of low mood or sadness
that run for over two weeks (ReachOut Australia, 2019). When one is in a depressive state,
their mood gets in the way of their daily life.
Over 300 million individuals worldwide are currently living depressed, a growth of more
than 18 percent over the last ten years. Australia ranks among the most anxious, depressed
country in the world (Sane Australia, 2019). Annually, close to 6 percent of adult Australians
are affected by a depressive condition. World Health Organization (WHO) reports indicate that
1.3 million Australians are going through a depressive state while 1.6 million of the country’s
citizens are experiencing anxiety conditions. One in eight men and one in six women in the
country will feel down at some point in their life. Depression in young women can drain their
hope and energy leaving them helpless. For them, depression is complicated by several factors
such as reproductive hormones as well as the social pressures that are unique to the female
response to stress. Depression can affect every area of a young woman’s life such as their
relationships, sense of self-worth as well as their career.
The following report highlights the rate of depression among the female youth of
Australia. It focuses on the reasons why the young develop depressive disorder especially the
women. In addition, the text presents interventions to prevent depression and encourage mental
health for young females. By understanding the reasons why the young are developing extensive

DEPRESSION AMONG THE YOUNG WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA 3
periods of low moods we can come up with appropriate interventions for treating the condition
among these population.
Understanding Depression within the youth of Australia
The reasons for feeling depressed are different for each individual as they are caused by a
mix of personal stressful life events and risk factors. However, people also experience anxiety
and depression at the same time. In Australia, one in five adolescents and children is affected by
mental health disorders and problems. The ones aged 18-24 have the highest prevalence of
psychological problems of any age set. Close to every one in every 35 young Australians
between the ages 14-17 go through a depressive disorder (Health Direct, 2017). This
accumulates to over 112,000 young people. According to WHO research reports, close to 14
percent of adolescents and children aged between 14-17 years experienced a mental disorder
between 2013-2014 which accounts for an estimated 560,000 adolescents and children in the
country (PAOLA, 2017). Also, 6.9 percent of Australia’s young population within the same age
group experienced an anxiety disorder in 2015. This is close to 278,000 of the youth in the
region. In addition, the number of deaths by suicide among Australia’s young is currently at its
highest over the last decade. In 2015, 391 young Australians between the ages 15-24 died
through suicide in comparison to 290 of the young in 2005 (Beyond blue, 2019). In Australia,
suicide has led to the loss of life among many young ones more than even car accidents. 324
Australians between the ages 15-24 died by suicide in 2012, a substantial difference from the
ones who died from car accidents which stood at 198. Evidence highlights that three in four adult
mental health problems start at 24 and half of these at 14.