Sharp decline in mental health for young Australians

COVID-19 is continuing to lead to worsening mental health outcomes for young Australians, with the highest levels of psychological distress for 18- to 24-year-olds observed this year, new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. The analysis from a survey of more than 3,000 Australians found psychological distress among 18- to 24-year olds jumped from 14.6 in August to 15.7 in October. The higher the score, the more distress, with a minimum value of six and a maximum value of 30. In contrast, psychological distress across the whole of Australia increased from 11.7 in August to 11.8 in October. In October, 72.1 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds also reported they were experiencing anxiety and worry due to COVID-19 - the highest of any age group in Australia. Study co-author, Professor Nicholas Biddle from the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, said psychological distress among 18- to 24-year olds was "worse than earlier in the year, and significantly worse than before the pandemic". "Young Australians have been one of the groups to feel the full force of this pandemic, with thousands losing work and facing dwindling prospects in a battered economy and depleted labour market," Professor Biddle said.