Alarming rise in mental health issues among Australian teens

18/6/2025 16:51

Nearly one in four high school students experience serious psychological distress, with depression and anxiety surging as they progress through adolescence, an Australian study has found.



Girls experienced higher levels of distress, anxiety, and depression than boys from the start of high school, with symptoms worsening more rapidly over time, especially among those from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to a release from the Public Health Association of Australia on Wednesday.



The research followed more than 6,600 students from 71 schools, surveying them annually from Year 7 to Year 10. By Year 10, nearly 30 percent of Australian teens surveyed showed signs of major depression, and almost one in four reported high psychological distress or moderate-to-severe anxiety, the release said.



The prevalence of mental health issues is "alarmingly common," and symptoms worsened as students aged, said the study's lead author Scarlett Smout from the University of Sydney's Matilda Center for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use.