Tuesday, 3 May 2022

Youth mental health

Mr ANGUS: The mental health issues of young Victorians continue to be neglected by this government. After two years of governing by fear and dictatorial control, the negative impact on the mental health of young people was outlined clearly in evidence received at last week’s parliamentary pandemic committee public hearing. It supported a recent newspaper article which noted that one in four young Australians thought about suicide over the past two years and 15 per cent attempted self-harm. We know that the level of mental health issues—including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal ideation—amongst children and young people is at record levels following the last two years. With 76 000 calls from desperate children to Kids Helpline going unanswered during the pandemic last year, the crisis in mental health in Victoria is worse than expected. Victoria’s chief psychiatrist gave evidence about the number of teenagers presenting— (Time expired)