Anxiety, depression, drought: biggest issues facing Queenslanders

The biggest issues facing high schoolers have been revealed by a renowned mental health organisation during a Queensland Mental Health week event in Cairns.

headspace Cairns Centre manager Gabrielle Gill, Warren Entsch MP, Deputy Chair NQPHN Tara Diversi and RFDS state manager of mental health Dawie Scheepers came together on Monday to kick off mental health week by raising awareness of some of the struggles facing young people and those in remote areas.

The biggest issues facing high schoolers are anxiety and depression, according to a local mental health organisation.

Awareness, belonging and connection are on the forefront of Queensland Mental Health week at headspace Cairns.

headspace Cairns centre manager Gabrielle Gill said the organisation was focused on building awareness for young people, their peers, families and anyone who had been touched by mental health issues to access proper support.

“In building awareness, we have a community engagement officer who goes into schools and talks to young people, teachers, guidance officers, promoting headspace services and educating young people on how to get help if they need it,” Ms Gill said.

She said the biggest issues facing young people, particularly in high school, were anxiety and depression.

headspace Cairns Centre manager Gabrielle Gill, Warren Entsch MP, Deputy Chair NQPHN Tara Diversi and RFDS state manager of mental health Dawie Scheepers came together on Monday to kick off mental health week by raising awareness of some of the struggles facing young people and those in remote areas.

“With Covid, with social media, there are a lot of expectations on young people to be perfect or to be something. With headspace national, our theme for headspace day was letting go of unrealistic expectations and I think that’s what we’re seeing with anxiety and depression,” Ms Gill said.

“People are putting themselves up against other people in thinking that they need to be at a certain place when everyone’s on their own journey.”

RFDS state manager of mental health Dawie Scheepers said mental health was not only a growing issue among young people, but among older people as well, especially in regional and remote areas.

“The situation around mental health is definitely improving. The awareness and availability of services has massively improved but there’s multiple complications in terms of social determinants of mental health. Isolation is one of the big ones,” Mr Scheepers said.

“That’s why it’s so good that for mental health week, we’re also focusing on that connectedness and being part of a community and being engaged with other people as opposed to just slogging through your own difficulties and challenges.”

Any young person, family, or friend in need of support can visit headspace Cairns between

8.30am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday (until 7.30pm Thursday) at Level 2, 42 Grafton Street.

Support is also available via phone and online counselling service eheadspace seven days a

week between 9am – 1am (AEST). The number is 1800 650 890.

Those seeking immediate help can call Lifeline (13 11 14) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800)

24/7.

Originally published as Anxiety, depression, drought: biggest issues facing Queenslanders