Geelong youth survey shows mental health, stress concerns above Victorian average

Geelong teens are more concerned about coping with stress and mental health concerns than their peers across the state, a new survey has revealed.

Geelong teens are more concerned about coping with stress and mental health concerns than their peers across the state, a new survey has revealed.

Mission Australia’s Youth Survey Report 2019, based on answers from youths aged between 15 and 19, also found that Geelong teens were more likely to have reported experiencing bullying in person than online.

The survey results revealed 51.9 per cent cent of Geelong teens were concerned or very concerned about coping with stress, compared with 50.4 per cent of Victorian respondents.

Almost 41 per cent of Geelong teens were concerned or very concerned about mental health, compared with 38.6 per cent Victorian respondents.

And one in six young people from Greater Geelong reported they had experienced bullying during the past year. Close to 90 per cent of those reported the bullying took place at school or a tertiary ­institution.

According to the results, Geelong youths were much more likely to experience ­“social bullying” — which could include rumours, being excluded or embarrassed — or verbal bullying than cyber bullying.

Across Victoria, 56.5 per cent of bullied teens reported experiencing social bullying and 37.8 per cent cyber-bullying.

Mission Australia’s Victoria state leader, Michele Leonard, said the survey results showed young people in Greater Geelong and right across Australia were deeply concerned about a range of important issues.

“Young people are very much aware of their own mental health and they can see it is a predominant issue here in Greater Geelong and right across Australia,” Ms Leonard said.

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“Our Youth Survey also confirms a concerning level of bullying which young people are experiencing or witnessing.

“This is unacceptable.

“Bullying can cause and intensify mental health concerns, which can have potentially harmful and lasting effects on the lives of young people.”

Ms Leonard said the findings indicated there was clearly a pressing need for better investment in programs and initiatives that promote mental health and wellbeing and ­combat bullying.

The Youth Survey Report 2019 also indicates that almost seven in 10 young people in Greater Geelong felt very happy or happy (68.9 per cent) overall with their lives and close to two thirds reported feeling very positive or positive (65.2 per cent) about the future.

Originally published as Geelong youth survey shows mental health, stress concerns above Victorian average