Introduction
Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health problems experienced by young people in Australia today. More than 75 per cent of people who develop a serious mental illness have their first episode before the age of 25, while the 18 - 24 group has the highest prevalence of mental health problems (this includes substance misuse disorders).(1)
Lack of understanding and misconceptions about depression contribute to the stigma associated with the condition. Depression and anxiety can be as serious, debilitating and life-threatening as physical illness - yet less than half of those experiencing depression seek help. When young people do seek assistance, often symptoms go unrecognised, or are passed over as "just a part of growing up".
Child and adolescent depression can have long-term negative effects. It is associated with substance abuse, academic problems, high-risk sexual behaviour, impaired social relations and increased risk of suicide. Those who experienced depression at a young age are more likely to experience depression in adulthood. Interest in the prevention and treatment of depression in young people is growing rapidly because of the serious impact it can have on them, their families and peers, and on the rest of society.
Improving awareness of anxiety and depression amongst young people and promoting prevention and early intervention is a key priority for beyondblue. Many of beyondblue's programs and services include a significant focus on the particular needs of young people aged between 12 - 25 years.
Included in this section is information on:
Partners
In addition to the many organisations involved in youthbeyondblue's programs and projects, beyondblue works with the following partners on youth mental health issues:
Headspace
www.headspace.org.au
Inspire Foundation
www.inspire.org.au
Orygen Youth Health
www.oyh.org.au
Mission Australia
www.missionaustralia.com.au
Australian General Practice Network
http://www.agpn.com.au
Australian Medical Students Association
www.amsa.org.au
State and Territory Offices for Youth
Australia
www.deewr.gov.au/Youth/OfficeForYouth
Victoria
www.youth.vic.gov.au
New South Wales
www.youth.nsw.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory
www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs
Queensland
www.communities.qld.gov.au/youth
Northern Territory
www.youth.nt.gov.au
Western Australia
www.childrenandyouth.wa.gov.au
South Australia
www.officeforyouth.sa.gov.au
Tasmania www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/ocya
Information for health professionals who work with young people
Young Minds
beyondblue: the national depression initiative and the Australian General Practice Network formed a partnership to develop this training program for GPs, practice staff and allied health professionals focusing on skills development in the diagnosis, management and treatment of high prevalence mental health disorders commonly occurring in young people. Young Minds - Treating Depression & Anxiety in Young People focuses on the identification, diagnosis and treatment of high prevalence mental health disorders occurring in young people between the ages of 12 and 24, including:
- clinical information and practice guidelines on the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and management of common mental health problems experienced by young people
- outcomes measures commonly used in the diagnosis of these disorders
- treatment guidelines and fact sheets for primary care professionals
- information about how to develop a 'youth friendly' practice'
- resources and support material to support patient psycho-education.
Young Minds is aimed at GPs, allied health professionals and other primary care workers who have an interest in youth mental health prevention and early intervention.
Further information on accreditation is on the training website.
If you would like to access this training opportunity, please click the link below and follow the instructions: http://www.ebmcbt.com
NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults (under development)
In response to growing evidence that depression rates in the Australian community were increasing and that treating mental illness in young people can be complicated, the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) produced the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Depression in Young People in 1997. This document was revoked in 2004 following the NHMRC's standard five-year publication review and is due for an update.
A new working committee has been formed by beyondblue to produce an up-to-date set of clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, identification, treatment and management of depression in adolescents and young adults.
The revised document will provide health care professionals, carers, families and friends of young people experiencing depression and the individuals themselves with guidelines containing the best available evidence-based recommendations on treatment. The new draft revised guidelines are expected to be released for a 60-day public consultation around August-September 2009.
As well as advertising the guidelines for public consultation in the national press and inviting submissions, beyondblue will hold workshops across the country with adolescents and young adults and mental health practitioners. Feedback from the public and the workshops will be used to finalise the guidelines, with the final document anticipated to be approved by the CEO of the NHMRC for release by early 2010.
Please follow the below link to access more information on the Clinical Practice Guidelines: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults:
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=7.102&tmp=FileDownload&fid=1290
Young people, anxiety and depression research
Risk & Protective Factors
Effective management of school refusal and childhood anxiety as a community-based early intervention to prevent subsequent depression: A randomized comparative treatment study(current)
Professor Bruce Tonge / Monash University
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.770
Time for a future: Effective treatment of depressed youth in urban and rural primary care settings (2007)
Professor Bruce Tonge / Monash University
A Program for Prevention and treatment of depression in people with intellectual disability: an extension and evaluation of a roll out into the community (current)
Dr David Hamilton / Deakin University
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.957
Young people's responses to emotional distress: a descriptive study (2006)
Dr Lena Sanci / Melbourne University
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.818
Type 1 diabetes as a risk factor for depression and other adverse outcomes for young people in rural Australia (current)
Ms Naomi Hackworth / Swinburne University of Technology
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.962
Looking beyond dual diagnosis: young people speak out (2009)
Dr Sarah Russell / Research Matters
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.964
Depression and Child Sexual Abuse (2002)
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.95
Evaluation of the Every Family Initiative (2005)
Triple P International, University of Queensland, Parenting and Family Support Centre and Queensland Divisions of General Practice
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=4.69
Service Response
An integrated approach to young people presenting with depression and substance use - a longitudinal study (2004)
Dr Yvonne Bonomo Dr Nich Rogers / Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.795
Attitudes towards and pathways to and from the Young People's Health Service mental health service (2004)
Mr Craig Hodges / Centre for Adolescent Health
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.799
Re-orientating general practice towards preventative mental health care for adolescents, utilising the practice nurse: A pilot study (2007)
Dr Lena Sanci / Centre for Adolescent Mental Health
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.776
Determining the effectiveness of a new model of care for young people with substance misuse disorder (2007)
Dr Leanne Hides / ORYGEN Research Centre
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.759
Diagnosis, assessment & monitoring
Novel ways of capturing adolescent depression: Development of an innovative youth-friendly monitoring tool (2007)
Dr Sophie Reid / Melbourne University
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.773
Improving the engagement detection and management of adolescent depression: Applying the mobile-type program to general practice settings (2009)
Dr Sophie Reid / Murdoch Children's Research Institute
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.962
Treatment & Support
A randomized controlled trial of enhanced cognitive therapy and family education for youth depression, anxiety and substance use (current)
Dr Andrew Lewis / Deakin University
Improving self efficacy - better outcomes for youth with depressive disorders (current)
Dr Glen Melvin / Monash University
Mental health care for young people: Towards a consumer-produced quality of care instrument and universal intervention to improve help-seeking behaviour (2005)
Dr Lena Sanci, Dr Sophie Reid / Centre for Adolescent Mental Health
The prevention of depressive relapse in young people using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (2006)
Associate Professor Nicholas Allen / Orygen Youth Health
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.794
A 3-8 year follow-up of adolescents treated for depression and their families: Predictors of treatment outcome (2007)
Professor Bruce Tonge / Monash University
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.759
Evaluating evidence-based treatment of depression in adolescents using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) delivered in rural/regional services (2009)
Dr Louise Hayes / University of Ballarat
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.713
Does Interpersonal Psychotherapy improve clinical care for adolescents with depression attending a rural child and adolescent mental health service? (current)
Dr Cate Bearsley-Smith / Monash University
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=6.711
Further information and resources
All beyondblue's information materials are available to order from the Order Form or by calling the beyondblue info line on 1300 22 4636.
[1] Kessler, Bergland, Demler et al. Lifetime prevalence and age of onset distributions of DSMIV disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2005.
