CANBERRA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Almost two thirds of young Australians believe their mental health is deteriorating.
A survey published by the Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation recently showed that 62 percent of respondents believe that the mental health of young Australians is getting worse.
More than one third of respondents identified social media as a factor in the mental health of young Australians compared to only five percent who said drugs and alcohol were a factor.
Expectations from school, family or community and work or study pressures were the other leading contributors, according to the survey.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Headpsace Jason Trethowan said that organizations such as his must be able to respond to the evolving influences on mental health.
"We know mental health is complex and there are many factors that contribute to a young person's wellbeing, but it's clear from the research that social media is something young people have strong opinions about and it's something that appears to be creating more pressure day to day," he said.
"A young person's real-world persona and online persona are so intertwined these days, so for example, if they're being vulnerable online or sharing something personal and not getting the reaction they were hoping for, it can be really upsetting," he said.
"There's also exposure to things like cyber-bullying and this ability to draw comparisons between your own life and that of your peers, perhaps making young people feel like what they're doing isn't stacking up," Trethowan added.
The foundation has seven tips for a healthy headspace ranging from a healthy diet and getting enough sleep to creating social connections.
