Alarming number of youth in need of mental health help on the Northern Rivers

In one Northern Rivers town, the number of youth admitted to hospital for mental health reasons is more than double the national average: This and other alarming takeaways from a new examination into the wellbeing of our kids:

Lismore teens and young adults are more likely to be hospitalised for mental health concerns than other kids across the nation.Â

New damning data reveals Lismore teens and young adults are more likely to be hospitalised for mental health concerns than other kids across the nation.

The shocking statistic is just one of many alarming findings as part of a new 2021 Child and Youth Social Health Atlas of Australia report from Torrens University.

The atlas, created by the University’s Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU), compares socio-economic inequalities, mental health and community impact among young people in disadvantaged areas within Australia.

Looking at our region, several key points stand out.

In terms of low income families, who are welfare dependent with children, many local communities struggle to match the national average of 9 per cent.

Ballina comes closest at 9.3 per cent, with Tweed region trailing just in front at 10.8 per cent.

In Lismore, 15.1 per cent of families classify themselves as low-income, whereas both Byron Bay and Richmond Valley families are slightly higher at 15.4 per cent.

However, Kyogle finds itself most likely to have welfare, low income dependant families at 15.6 per cent of the population.

Here are some other concerning data points to take away from the report:

For more information, head to the report’s interactive map here.