Australian teens reveal what they are most worried about and how they de-stress

A surge in Aussie teenagers seeking professional help for mental problems is being driven by a number of factors, as they also explain how they de-stress.

Year 12 student Marlon Peters says social media pressure to have a perfect body and perfect life, as well as the need to succeed at school weighs heavily on his generation.

“Comparing yourself to those almost fictionalised beauty standards that you see on social media, then seeing other people live lifestyles that are again almost fictionalised, if you don’t know how to deal with it or understand that isn’t the reality for everyone, it can be difficult and detrimental to some people,” the 17 year old said.

However, the Wellbeing Prefect said his school was being proactive about making sure stressed students knew there were teachers, counsellors, friends, parents and others “in our corner”.

“It’s a phrase that our school started this year and is about a reference to boxing,” Marlon said.

“So fighting the good fight, essentially. But it’s just about having a strong support network and knowing who is in your corner that you can turn to when you need it for every aspect of life.

“At least in my area, with my peer groups and stuff, we’re all really happy being unique people. We are, and we understand what our flaws are, and what our strengths are,” he said.

17-year-old Marlon Peters at home at Yeronga in Brisbane. Picture: Lachie Millard

School-leaver service Year 13 surveyed young people as part of its Gen Z Wellbeing Check and found more than half were suffering anxiety, more than four in 10 had low self-esteem and poor body image and one in three were lonely or depressed.

It also found almost one in two teenagers had seen a mental health professional for help as reports of anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem and body dysmorphia surge.

It also found young people are taking a proactive approach to their mental health – seeking therapy and using music, movies, games and exercise to help cope with their stress.

Year 13 founder Saxon Phipps said the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted what had previously been a big rite of passage – the transition from school years to adulthood.

He said young people were also weighed down by concerns about the environment, the war in Ukraine and what they feared was a pending global economic recession and how these will affect their future.

Two in three young people rated mental health, climate change, coronavirus and cost of living as issues that concern them most.

Half of them were also concerned about youth suicide and housing affordability.

Mates Marlon Peters and Nick Adames hang out at home in Brisbane. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Phipps set up the Year 13 service that works with 1500 schools around the country after five people in his social circle took their own lives in the two years after leaving school.

“There’s a lot of societal pressures that are placed on young people to know what you’re going to do for the rest of your life and back in 2011, there was no port of call for students who may have gone down in exams, who may have made a wrong decision who may be wanting to reassess what they were doing and that was really the foundation (for the service)”.

He said it was encouraging that young people were taking the initiative to deal with their own mental health problems by listening to music, using meditation and caring for their own wellbeing.

“On social media you’re seeing young people, Gen Z specifically, share a lot of these messages about their struggles. It’s not just about showing the glitz and the glamour, it’s really about being authentic and being able to show that you know, I’m not okay and this is what I’m going through,” he said.

“And I think that effect, you know, it has a great effect on young people to be able to say, ‘You know what, I’m not okay as well.’”

For help with emotional difficulties, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au

For the Kids Helpline call 1800 55 1800

For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au

The SANE Helpline is 1800 18 SANE (7263) or at www.sane.org

Originally published as Australian teens reveal what they are most worried about and how they de-stress