One in five young Australians are living with mental health problems, and in the 13-17 age group only about 25% are receiving professional help.

One in five young Australians are living with mental health problems, and in the 13-17 age group only about 25% are receiving professional help. Depression and anxiety disorders are the two most common psychological problems in adolescents: by the time they are 18, about one in four young people will have suffered at least one bout of depression.

Beyondblue, the national initiative to combat depression, has launched a new schools program to investigate whether modifications to the school environment and the curriculum could cut depression rates among young people. The program, to cost $5 million, will run in 48 schools for at least three years, and is being trialled in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

The program has two main goals: first, to reduce new cases of depression and anxiety disorder by between one-third and one-half (and to reduce the substance abuse that is often associated with the problems); and second, to reduce to less than five years the time taken for children who develop problems to get professional advice. The present average is 10-15 years. (Most don't get help until they're aged 30, said Professor George Patton, director of Melbourne's Centre for Adolescent Health.)

Teachers and parents will be educated in how to create a positive school environment that deals effectively with bullying and victimisation, for example. And as part of the curriculum under the program, children will be taught practical strategies to cope with stress (Sydney Morning Herald, 25/9/03, p.1; Daily Telegraph, 8/10/03, p.25).