Youth Mental Health & Suicide Facts & Figures (Current as of May 2008)
Mental Health issues for young people:
In every Year 12 classroom, 7 young people have a mental health difficulty, but only 2 seek professional help. 1 young person will have attempted suicide.
75% of mental illness begins before age 25
Intentional self-harm / suicide is the second most common cause for death and injury among young people aged 12-24 (27%), only exceeded by transport accidents (45%).
Almost 75% of all intentional self-harm deaths among young people are males (2.7 times the rate of females)
Overall rates of youth suicide have declined by 56% since 1997, with 244 deaths in 2006.
At the same time, however, more young people experience high to very high levels of psychological distress (13% of males, compared to 7% in 1997; 19% of females, compared to 13% in 1997)
When including moderate psychological stress, the figures jump to 40% males and 51% females.
Now, the Internet offers new opportunities for young people to connect and find support:
In 2006-7, 90% of 18-24 year-olds and 92% of 15-17 year-olds used the internet
Between 1998 and 2007 the proportion of households with Internet access quadrupled from 16% in 1998 to 64% in 2007
Young people are 2-6 times more likely to go online than call a helpline, visit a school counsellor, or see a doctor, minister or “someone else in the community”.
USA
Inspire was established as the result of the vision of its President, Jack Heath. Mr. Heath is the founder of The Inspire Foundation, an Australian nonprofit organization (“Inspire Australia”), that in 1998 created the Reach Out! website (www.reachout.com.au), in response to Australia’s then escalating rates of youth suicide. This award winning online service has been credited with playing a significant role in reducing youth suicide rates in Australia by 56% since 1997.
In 2006, Mr. Heath engaged The Bridgespan Group, a U.S. nonprofit strategy consulting firm, to conduct an independent assessment of the need for a program like Reach Out! in the United States. That study found that, despite the critical mental health needs of many young Americans, there was no service comparable to Reach Out! in the United States.
Mr. Heath’s vision for the Inspire Foundation is to bring the successful Australian Reach Out! service to the United States with appropriate customization to reach the 3 million young Americans who attempt suicide and the 12 million plus young Americans who experience depressive symptoms each year. The service will also provide valuable assistance to the 29 million family members and friends who are the main source of support and advice to young people going through troubled times
Inspiration USA has now been established in San Francisco.
Ireland
The Inspire Foundation has now established an operation in Ireland.
