Unemployment and feeling undervalued in workplace taking a toll on young women’s mental health

YOUNG women are smoking and drinking less, eating better, being more active, yet a new survey shows the biggest decline in psychological wellbeing in nearly a decade.

Lili Moran, 21, Helen Smith, 19, Tori Pearson, 21, Beth McKenna, 18, and Jessica Popple, 21.

EARLY-life crisis is taking hold of Australia, with young women showing the biggest decline in psychological wellbeing since 2007.

Almost one-third of 18-24 year-olds have no optimism about the future and fail to live full and busy lives, accor­ding to the 2015 Australian Wellness Index.

The data – collected by Roy Morgan from almost 50,000 people between 2007 and March this year – highlights how young women have lost their “joie de vivre” and suffer from anxi­ety, depression, panic attacks and stress.

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The research shows the free fall in mental health is driven by feeling underused and undervalued in the workplace or struggling to find a job.

Overall, the nation’s health continues to improve.

We are smoking and drinking less, eating better, being more active and suffering from fewer medical conditions. BMIs have steadied but psychological health across all demographics is declining.

Lili Moran, 21, Helen Smith,19, Tori Pearson, 21, Beth McKenna,18, and Jessica Popple, 21 living “full and busy” lives.

Young women who claim­ed to “live a full and busy life” declined from 62 per cent to 56 per cent. Only 69 per cent are optimistic about the future, a dramatic drop from 85 per cent in 2013.

“Australian women aged 18-24 have suffered the greatest decline in their psychological health since 2007,” Roy Morgan Research chief Michele Levine said.

“We have found … a strong correlation between unempl­oyment or underemployment and higher rates of anxiety and depression, so it is perhaps not surprising that this group is also among the most likely to be seeking work.”

Beth McKenna, 18, from the Sunshine Coast, is in her first year of a double law/arts degree.

“With working part-time and trying to study for exams, yes, it is very stressful,” she said.

“I have many friends who are living out of home, trying to find enough money to look after themselves properly and trying to study, too. There are a lot of pressures these days.”

For 24 hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact BeyondBlue for information on anxiety or depression.