The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says one in four Australians, age 16 to 24 have mental problems.

Since 2000 there’s been a 66% increase in mental issues for teens age 12 to 14.  And a 90% increase for teen girls specifically!

The Australian Christian Lobby blames divorces.  I think the Australian Christian Lobby needs their head examined.

The Australian Response Ability web site does list family problems as a factor, but it’s only one of many “risks”.   Understand that a “risk” is not necessarily a cause:

Family “risk” factors include:

• having a single parent;
• having a teenage mother;
• large family size;
• marital discord or family violence;
• poor supervision and parenting;
• being abused or neglected;
• criminal or financial problems in the family;
• parental mental illness or substance abuse;
• harsh or inconsistent discipline and lack of affection; or
• death of an important family member.

“Risk” factors for school-aged children include:

• bullying and rejection from peers;
• lack of connection with the school;
• poor behaviour management at school;
• a peer group showing problem behaviours;
• difficult transitions between grades and schools;
• problems with schooling and academic failure.

“Risk” factors in the community setting include:

• social and economic disadvantage;
• discrimination and racism;
• isolation;
• neighbourhood violence and crime;
• high population density, poor housing conditions;
• lack of support services and lack of recreational facilities.

Here’s some more disturbing mental health facts from Response Ability, an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:

One in five Australians will experience mental problems at some point in their life.

Every year 20,000 more Australians suffer mental problems.

Almost one in 100 Australians will experience schizophrenia during their lifetime.