The modern digital landscape presents a growing range of challenges, with young people often at the centre. One defining feature of this digital era is excessive social media use, which can contribute to feelings of isolation, inadequacy and dissatisfaction. As young Australians navigate these increasingly complex pressures, ensuring they have ready and reliable access to mental health services is more important than ever.
Australia’s Health 2026 Report found that mental health disorders among young people aged 16-25 rose from 26% to 39% between 2007 and 2020-2022. These findings highlight the increasing need to destigmatise what ‘seeking help’ looks like, and to ensure young Australians are educated on mental health.
f you, or a young person you know is exhibiting similar behaviours, there are many options for support.
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Mental Health is Complex
In a world where information is at our fingertips, it is easy to believe we can find answers to our feelings on our own. However, mental health can be quite complex and layered - it’s not always something we can handle by ourselves. About 30% of adolescents with a mental illness experienced two or more mental health concerns within the same 12-month period. A young person dealing with anxiety may also experience depression, self-esteem issues, low motivation or other difficulties. This reinforces the importance of seeking professional support, someone who is able to help untangle these complicated emotions to help you make sense of them, instead of ‘pushing through’ alone.
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Don't Wait Until it's a Crisis
Feeling stressed about school, pressure from social media, struggling with friendships or navigating family life are all common parts of growing up. However, if these pressures begin to affect your wellbeing, it’s important to know that you can ask for help before it becomes too overwhelming.
Counselling is not only for emergencies or times of crisis, it can also provide a safe space to better understand your thoughts and emotions, develop healthy coping strategies and address solutions to problems before they become unmanageable. Whether you’re dealing with stress, feeling down, issues in relationships, or just ‘not feeling yourself’, talking to a qualified, registered counsellor can help you make sense of your feelings, build resilience, and equip you with practical tools to cope.
Still feeling nervous, or worried about judgement? Many of our counsellors work in online, early intervention support models like the Medicare Mental Health Check In. These services are a great start for those who are not sure what level of care they require or are simply nervous to meet someone in person.
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Take the First Step
ACA represents registered counsellors and psychotherapists across Australia, whom are all easily accessible through our Find a Counsellor Directory. Here, you can search for a counsellor or psychotherapist based on location, area of interest, language and more.
If you, or someone you care about is needing for support, consider how counselling can help, and reach out to a professional.
Held in Sydney and online, the Symposium aims to bring together counsellors and mental health professionals to explore the latest insights in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. If you're passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of young Australians, this is an opportunity to connect and learn.
We hope to see you there!