A recent review has revealed a troubling lack of action in addressing the youth mental health global crisis. It labeled the situation a “scandal” with severe consequences for the well-being and productivity of young people.
The Lancet Psychiatry Commission report
The report, published by The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health, is the result of four years of research by over 50 experts, including psychiatrists, psychologists, scholars, and young individuals who have experienced mental health challenges.
Lead author Professor Patrick McGorry maintained that governments are letting young people down, with the need for mental health care among Australian youth increasing by 50 percent over the past 15 to 20 years.
The report, led by Orygen, Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, calls for expanding existing evidence-based solutions. It highlights that while mental illnesses may not always be fatal, they are now the leading cause of disability and lost potential among young people.
“Young people have been termed as the snowflake generation, lacking in resilience,” Professor McGorry said. “It’s not just that we neglect them.”
“We actually blame them for the problems that they’re suffering from,” he added.
Finlaey Hewlett’s struggle for support
Finlaey Hewlett, a 23-year-old member of Orygen’s youth advisory council, shared her personal experience of struggling to find mental health support. Growing up in regional Western Australia, Hewlett faced a severe lack of resources, which left her feeling isolated and inadequate.
At age sixteen, during a period of intense psychological distress, she sought help at a hospital emergency department, only to be turned away after a twelve hour wait. The reason was she had not made an active attempt on her life, and the limited resources were reserved for those in immediate danger.
Challenges in the current healthcare system
The Lancet Psychiatry Commission report criticized the current healthcare models that disrupted care at age 18. It recommended a more comprehensive approach for those aged 12 to 25. This approach, initially developed by Headspace in Australia, is being adopted in other countries. However, it needs further development to address more complex mental health issues.
McGorry highlighted that 39 percent of young Australians have a diagnosable and treatable mental health condition, yet only 50 percent receive the care they need.
Globally, mental health issues account for 45 percent of the disease burden among 10 to 24-year-olds, but only two percent of health budgets go to mental health care.
Even in Australia, where the situation is slightly better, there remains a significant gap between government spending and the scale of the crisis.
Global trends contributing to youth mental distress
The report identified several global trends contributing to the rise in psychological distress among young people. These include growing inequality between generations, financial pressures, global instability, and the impact of social media.
While the commission acknowledged the harm of social media, Professor McGorry warned against seeing it as the sole cause of youth mental health issues. He argued that focusing too much on social media distracts from more complex global trends that are harder for politicians to address.
According to Professor McGorry, “I’m not saying that social media is not harmful. But if it’s seen as the total explanation, it’s a very sort of soft target.”
“It does distract away from the much more challenging megatrends that are much more difficult for politicians to deal with,” he said.
McGorry questioned whether banning social media for those under sixteen is the right approach, suggesting instead that the focus be on addressing the root causes of these issues.
“The world really has to get real here if we want to see the next generation flourish, [and] if we want to make sure our societies are cohesive and productive, this is a no-brainer,” he added.
Australian government response and proposed reforms
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler acknowledged that the health system is overwhelming but stopped short of calling it broken. He announced that a review of the current models of care would soon begin, with youth mental health being a key topic in upcoming meetings.
Shadow Minister for Health Anne Ruston called for urgent reform and investment. She pledged that a coalition government would restore Medicare-funded psychology sessions to twenty. The current government had reduced them to ten.
Ruston also emphasized the need for a national workforce strategy to address the shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists, ensuring that adequate support is available in the future.
She said, “We need to concentrate on having a national workforce strategy so that we’ve got a pipeline of psychologists and psychiatrists, particularly into the future so that we can make sure that we have got the support ready.”
