Distribution of Depression Amongst Young Australians Essay

The usual causes, triggers as well as risk factors that are associated with suicide are poverty, trauma, substance abuse and relationship problems (Ridani et al., 2015). From 2001 to 2010, 4.2% of Aboriginal deaths was due to suicide while for all other Australians it only accounted for 1.6% of deaths (ABS, 2012). Furthermore, females of Indigenous Australian origin aged 15 to 19 years, committed suicide 5.9 times more than other female Australians while the ratio for male Indigenous people was 5.5 more than other male Australians and the suicide overall ratio for Indigenous people is twice more than that of non-Indigenous Australians. (ABS, 2012) A person is at an increased risk for suicide if they have mental health disorders and chronic diseases, are unemployed, isolation, social support is non-existent, history of depression and other behavioural factors as well (Evans & Brown,

The inability to make and prolong relationships leads to a sense of isolation, and contributes to poor mental health and depression. Hospitalisation rates for self-harm are representative of mental illness, depression and stress – and in 2006, Indigenous Australians were 3 times more likely to be hospitalized for severe self-harm than other Australians. In 2011, 80% of suicides of the ages 19 to 24 were

“Recent data estimate the overall prevalence of depression at about 11.1% of the American population, or nearly 35 million individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). A predictive models suggest that up to 50% of the population will experience at least one episode of depression during their lives” (Life Extension, 2014). Depression has negatively affected the lives of many individuals throughout the world. Look around you there may even be someone close to you that is demonstrating signs of its stifling affects. Depression does not discriminate with its suffocating

In fact, there is higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the Aboriginal women in comparison with the non Aboriginal women. According to the Survey (2016), First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults more than one in five reported having suicidal ideations at some point in their lives. Interestingly, family violence which resulted to low self-esteem, major depressive disorder, alcohol consumption are associated to suicidal thoughts in Metis men and women (Kumar, 2016). In addition, the frequency and the concentration of alcohol consumption increases the suicidal thoughts increases the suicidal thoughts and Metis women who drink heavily and frequently are more at risk of lifetime suicidal thoughts (Kumar et al.,

The term "mental illness" refers to a wide range of disorders that affect one's mood, thinking, and behaviour. Depression is among the most common mental illnesses (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, 2009). Depression is much more than simple unhappiness, it can be defined as an intense feeling of sadness and worthlessness that lasts for more than two weeks and for most of one's day. Symptoms include lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, as well as many other symptoms which can have repercussions socially, professionally, and in other significant areas of one's life (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012). According to Health Canada (2009), twenty-seven percent of Canadians will experience depression in the course

Over the years there have been serious concerns about mental health illness such as suicide and depression amongst aboriginal people and their communities. The aboriginal community experience a much higher suicide rate that the whole population of Canada. (Khan, "Visions ", 2008, p. 6) Their suicide rates are twice the national average and are showing no signs of decreasing. As well, aboriginals experience major depression at twice the national average.

The difference in suicide rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians exists because of the stereotypical treatment towards aboriginals. Since the early ages of the British settlements Aboriginals have been enslaved and treated as the lower class. This has changed as there is no more slavery however the non-indigenous attitudes towards the indigenous is still bad and this can lead to depression and then suicide

There are an estimated 73, 649 teenagers of a diverse sexual orientation or gender living in rural and regional Australia (ABS, 2017a; ABS, 2017b; Department of Health and Ageing, 2012). These teenagers are geographically and socially isolated in contrast to metropolitan teenagers of a diverse sexual orientation or gender due to few population covering a larger area of Australia (Morandini, Blaszczynski, Dar-Nimrod, & Ross, 2015). Firstly, these teenagers experience risk factors associated with rural and regional living, being an adolescent and being of a diverse sexual orientation or gender, refer to Appendix A for a table of health problems. Mental health disorders, predominantly anxiety and depression, are a major factor contributing to

The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing Results revealed that at some stage in their lives, up to 45% of Australians will experience a mental illness, with 20% of the Australians surveyed in the 16-85 age group having experienced a mental illness within the 12 months preceding the survey

A number of large-scale studies indicate that depression rates have increased worldwide over the past several decades. Furthermore, younger generations are experiencing depression at an earlier age than did previous generations. Social scientists have proposed many explanations, including changes in family structure, urbanization, and reduced cultural and religious influences.

More people suffer from depression than you might think. People of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities get clinical depression. An estimated 35 to 40 million Americas living today will suffer from major depression at some time during their lives. (4) This is about 13 to 20 percent of all Americans. (1) About half of these individuals will experience recurring depression. (3) Despite being what authorities call "the nation's leading mental health problem" (6), depression is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, and therefore not treated. (4) Often as a result, about 25 percent of these people attempt suicide to end their

Australia has experienced demographic transformations as a result of increased migration between 2001 and 2011 (Renzaho et al., 2016). According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016), it estimated that 6.7 million people were born overseas. Studies show that migrant groups are disproportionately affected by social and health inequalities in Australia. One of the main health issues is mental health.

Australian and international research has revealed that the resettlement environment and experiences can impact on a child’s mental health as much as pre-migration and migration experiences (Porter & Haslam, 2005). Once resettled within the community children undergo a gradual process of sociocultural adaption, with social, cultural and language differences impacting on their integration with host communities (Fazel, Reed, Panter-Brick and Stein, 2011). In addition , the impact of resettlement can result in positive and negative effects on mental health. It is important to understand that the majority of children resettled within Australia do not show negative implications of resettlement (Mace, Mulheron, Jones & Cherian, 2014).

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, “Nearly three million Australians live with depression and/or anxiety, which affects their wellbeing, personal relationships, career and productivity”. It is true that the real definition of depression is skewed amongst those in society. Some chose to believe that depression is a normal reaction to life’s stresses, like losing a loved one, getting fired from a job, going through a divorce, and other difficult situations, and that only when these feelings come without reason and persist long term should it be seen as a serious concern. Others believes that depression is no more than a sad feeling that is ignorable, only revealed to people for the sake of attention and the care that comes from pity and sympathy. Personally, I believe that depression is a scientifically proven mental illness, and as it dramatically alters one’s self and has become prevalent in society, it should be discussed with the gravity and urgency deserved to such a pressing topic.

In particular, the incidence of anxiety, depression, and attempted suicide cases are greater in the Indigenous population (Beyondblue, 2016). Figures from Beyond Blue 2016 state that just over one third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over reported personal racial mistreatment within the last 12 months, because they were of their origins (Beyondblue, 2016).