YANQ is the peak body for the Queensland Youth Sector
Youth Affairs Network Queensland
  • home
  • about
    • what we do
    • become a member
    • donate
    • our values
    • h*story
  • conference
    • 2014 conference
    • 2011 conference
  • news + resources
    • news from yanq
    • what is youth work?
    • become a youth worker
    • projects >
      • health projects >
        • stop drugging our kids!
        • sexual health
        • youth primary health development
      • youth disability advocacy queensland
      • multicultural youth advocacy network
      • reengagement in education
      • juvenile justice >
        • 17 year olds in adult prisons
        • youth in remand
      • workforce development
    • yanq publications >
      • research papers
      • policy submissions
      • media releases
      • network noise magazine
      • newtransitions journal
  • youth networks
    • yanq regional networks
    • youth interagency details
    • youth consultative network
  • COVID-19 Information for youth services
  • Online Forums
  • contact

YANQ responds to 'mental health for kids aged 11'

11/2/2012

0 Comments

 
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
by: Suellen Hinde

CHILDREN as young as 11 should be screened for mental illness and given preventive therapy in schools, health experts say.

Primary and high school screening programs should be implemented Australia-wide to help treat the disease later in life, claims a new report from some of the country's leading health economists.

Mental health bodies have backed the plan, but youth advocates have raised concerns it could lead to Australia becoming a "Prozac nation".

New research was undertaken by health economists at Deakin, Melbourne and Queensland universities as part of a bigger project looking at the cost effectiveness of preventive health interventions for the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The analysis found 35 per cent fewer children in the 11 to 17-year age group were likely to develop depression after screening and intervention.

Mental health experts from The Black Dog Institute have thrown their support behind the plan.

"If we could screen our children for cancer at school and prevent it we would, so why not mental illness?," Black Dog Institute executive director Professor Helen Christensen said.

Prof Christensen said the development of depression could begin at 11 with the onset of puberty.

One in five 13-year-olds in Australia have depression.

"This is an opportunity for the Government to do something," she said.

But youth advocates are concerned it could increase the use of medication in young people.

Youth Affairs Network of Queensland is concerned the proposal could stigmatise young people.

"We have evidence of a lot of stigma around the new disorders that have been created such as ADHD," director Siyavash Doostkhah said.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Home / Our Work / Our Publications / Media

    Media Releases

    RESEARCH >>
    POLICY SUBMISSIONS >>
    Follow @news_yanq

    Categories

    All
    17 Year Olds In Adult Prisons
    Adhd
    Employment
    Juvenile Justice
    Mental Health
    Multiculturalism
    Workforce / Sector

    Archives

    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.