A recent survey has found one in five young people are experiencing financial hardship, with cost of living pressures having effects on mental health and wellbeing. Source: ABC News.
Kate Filia is the lead author of the report by youth mental health organisation Orygen.
She said the report painted a bleak picture for those aged 15 to 19 “without the hope, motivation and idea that they are going to have success”.
“The more impacted they are now, the more they feel like they don’t have control over their lives,” Dr Filia said.
“Where we talk about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on mental health and wellbeing, that comes back and impacts a person’s ability to take part in activities, to do things that will help them succeed in the future.
“It becomes this vicious cycle that is hard to break.”
Of the almost 20,000 young people surveyed by Mission Australia for Orygen, one in five were experiencing financial hardship, with serious impacts on mental health and wellbeing.
Of those surveyed, more than half were worried about their financial future.
The report also revealed that in two years, the number of young people who felt “financial matters” was one of the most important issues in Australia had tripled.
Dr Filia said cost of living, climate concerns, social isolation and loneliness were drivers for the youth mental health crisis and exposure to those social issues was compounding the impact.
The report called for increased financial support, more housing options and opportunities for young people to engage with each other in their communities. Much of this has been recommended in the past.
But the report also recommended the introduction of a “social transition passport”, an app which could be developed by the federal Government and Services Australia to help young people navigate their finances.
FULL STORY
Report highlights mental toll on young Australians amid cost-of-living crisis (By Gemma Breen, ABC News)
