PUBH6000: Report on Depression in Young Australians Aged 12-25

This report delves into the critical issue of depression among young Australians, specifically those aged between 12 and 25. It highlights the prevalence of depression in this demographic, citing statistics and emphasizing its status as a significant public health concern. The report explores various causes of depression, including poor relationships, adverse environments, relationship failures, and academic setbacks. It also examines the different types of depression and their impact on the daily lives of young people, including their sleeping and eating habits. The report discusses the socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, abuse, and community violence, that contribute to depression. It also highlights the importance of early intervention, the role of parents, schools, and physical activity in prevention and treatment, and the need for mental health professionals to address this critical issue. The report emphasizes the importance of awareness, communication, and support systems in mitigating the effects of depression and promoting better mental health outcomes for young Australians. The report also addresses the role of physical educators and schools in promoting mental wellbeing and the importance of open communication within families.

Running Head: Public Health
Public Health
Essay
System04104
8/25/2019

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Depression in Youngsters (aged between 12-25 years) in Australia
Depression is one of the major issues in young generation in Australia. Experiencing
depression in youths may be different from person to person. There are too many causes of
depression. Depression is a mental situation where patient feel low or overwhelmed mental
condition. The major symptoms of depression are aggression, angry behaviour, exhausted,
tired, or miserable. Depression makes the person energy less and sometime people do not
even want to get out of his bed or to eat.
Depression in young generation is so common and there are various reasons that
cause depression in youngsters such as poor relationship with parents, adverse environment
in school or colleges, bad patches in relationship, or failure in study or exam etc. (Black Dog
Institute, 2016). However, depression not only affects the mental status of patient rather it
also affects the daily schedule of people like sleeping time, meal schedule, etc. Generally, it
has been seen that people who face depression might fell stressed or cry without any reason.
There are different types of depression such as major depressive disorder, premenstrual
dysphonic depression (in young girls), disruptive mood deregulation disorder, and other
specified mood disorder etc.
In Australia, one in every five young people (aged 12-25 years) are suffering from
depression in the country while more than 40% of children are suffering from depression in
Australia (COPMI, 2019). Depression is third highest burden of all diseases in the country
and it is the third global issues in the world (COPMI, 2019). The pick period of depression in
youngsters are generally seen in the adolescence age or in adulthood. It has been found that
most of the young people who are facing recurrent depression issues will have first
experienced the depression at the adolescent age or adult childhood age in their life stage.
However, it has been seen and observed that the longer the people take untreated or not
respond it they suffer more with the depression. Delay in treatment of depression affect the
health of youngsters and increase the risk. Young people are involved many acts or
perf0rming various key development task at the age of 12 to 25 years old such as study,
developing new skills, and establishing relationship with opposite gender (Burns, Andrews,
& Szabo, 2012). Failure or uncomfortable situation in these acts directly affects the metal
health of youngsters and causes depression. However, maintaining relationship (especially

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sexual relationship) at this stage or failure to finding jobs are the major causes behind
depression in youngsters aged 12 to 25 years. The consequence of depression in youngsters is
very dangerous in the later stage of age and it has been seen that many young people do not
able to recover from the depression situation. In the general society, it has been observed that
people generally ignore the initial stage of depression and its effects. Even most of the people
do not understand that they are suffering from depression at the early stage of this mental
illness (Black Dog Institute, 2016). The unawareness about depression in the society and
failure to identify its symptoms is the major issue that affect the health of young generation in
the country. It can be said that poor economic structure where young people fail to get the job
in adolescent age or in adult childhood age is the major reason behind depression. Apart from
this, failure in relationship or poor environment in family also affects the mental health of
young children. However, the relationship between parents also does matter for the children
and its affect the mental health or create depression in young people or adolescents
(Garaigordobil, Jaureguizar, & Bernarás, 2019). The changing relationship with peers and
family members also affects the mental health status of youngsters. Apart from this, there are
various socio0economic reasons that cause depression in young people. Poverty, child
physical and sexual abuse, and community violence are some of the key factors that cause
depression in young people in the country. Sometimes, it has been seen that people aged
between 12-25 years are suffering from some negative thoughts that affects the mental health
of youngsters and causes depression in the people. In the society, it has been seen that people
who are facing issues related with depression are generally faces discrimination from friends,
family members, or from loved ones. Apart from this, racism is another factor that negatively
affects the mental health of young people in the country and causes depression in youngsters
(Hammen, 2012).
Intervention of depression is really important for the mental health of youngsters.
However, it is really difficult for the health practitioners to find out the reasons of mental
disorder in young people. There are various causes and symptoms of depression and it is only
possible to find out these symptoms and causes of depression after counselling of patient.
Physical or mental health practitioners can play a key role in changing the behaviour of
young people and bring them on right track of life. However, the interaction and friendly
behaviour of parents can also help to prevent the depression because when young or
adolescent children openly communicate and convey their mental health status or their
activities with their parents, it will help to prevent the depression in young generation

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(Uljarević, Hedley, Rose-Foley, Magiati, Cai, Dissanayake, & Trollor, 2019). The parents
need to establish a good relationship with adolescent and youngsters to prevent depression in
them. Apart from this, the school environment should be familiar and cooperative to the
student and curriculum must be light that no create tense for the student. It has been seen that
from last few years, the number of suicide attempts in young people in Australia is higher
than any country in the world. Here, understanding the need of people and young generation
is really necessary they why they depressed. Some researchers and mental health practitioners
suggest that school should also promote physical activities. Physical activity of 40-45
minutes in three to five days in week may reduce the chances of depression in youngsters
(Bertha & Balázs, 2013). The school and colleges can recruit physical educators who can
listen, understand the mental status of young people, and provide health literacy and
awareness about depression to the children. It is really important for a youngster to openly
talk about the issues that he/she faces in life with their loved ones and find out the solution of
problem rather than over thinking on the issue. People who are more emotional are also a
serious victim of depression because these types of people are more sensitive and early
overwhelmed in any particular situation (Muñoz, Beardslee, & Leykin, 2012). Apart from
this, people who are facing depression must contact to a mental health counsellor or to a
psychiatrist about the mental health issues and follow the treatment procedures.
Depression is the major health issue in the young people in Australia. The adolescent
and adult childhood time is the crucial time of emotional, physical, and social development in
youngsters. Depression causes many other mental health issues and brings some negative
changes in the behaviour of youngsters. However, if the family members and parents of the
youngsters care about the activities of their young children then they can prevent depression
in youngsters. It is also crucial for family members to openly talk about their children’s
relationship and what they feel about their relationship. Apart from this, school can arrange
40-45 minutes of physical activities and communication classes with adolescents and adult
childhood to prevent the depression. Here the role of physical educator is so crucial in
preventing depression in children because they can provide counselling to the youngsters and
ask them to remove those activities that cause depression.

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References
Bertha, E. A., & Balázs, J. (2013). Subthreshold depression in adolescence: a systematic
review. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 22(10), 589-603.
Black Dog Institute (2016). Prevention of depression and anxiety in Australia schools.
Retrieved from:
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/defaultsource/research/evidence-and-
policy-section/prevention-of-depression-and-anxiety-in-australian-schools.pdf?
sfvrsn=2
Burns, J. M., Andrews, G., & Szabo, M. (2012). Depression in young people: what causes it
and can we prevent it?. Medical journal of Australia, 177, S93-S96.
COPMI (2019). Different Types of Mental Illness. Retrieved from:
http://www.copmi.net.au/kids-young-people/different-types-of-mental-
illness#depression
Garaigordobil, M., Jaureguizar, J., & Bernarás, E. (2019). Evaluation of the effects of a
childhood depression prevention program. The Journal of psychology, 153(2), 127-
140.
Hammen, C. (2012). The social context of adolescent depression: vulnerabilities and
consequences. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 3(5), 739-749.
Muñoz, R. F., Beardslee, W. R., & Leykin, Y. (2012). Major depression can be
prevented. American Psychologist, 67(4), 285.
Pizzagalli, D. A. (2014). Depression, stress, and anhedonia: toward a synthesis and integrated
model. Annual review of clinical psychology, 10, 393-423.
Uljarević, M., Hedley, D., Rose-Foley, K., Magiati, I., Cai, R. Y., Dissanayake, C., & Trollor,
J. (2019). Anxiety and depression from adolescence to old age in Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 1-11.