Latest news with #MissionAustralia
The Guardian
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Excessive social media found to harm teenagers' mental health – but experts say moderation may be key
Australian teenagers who spend between one and three hours on social media a day report similar or better mental health outcomes compared with teenagers using social media less, suggesting moderation may be key, according to a major new survey. The Mission Australia survey canvassed the views of 17,480 young people across Australia aged between 15 and 19, which comes amid the public debate over restricting access to social media for people aged under 16. A ban on under-16s from social media – including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram – is due to come into effect in December in Australia. The survey found 97% of young people reported using social media every day, with 38% spending three or more hours per day, and 53% spending one to three hours per day. The report found 48% of gender diverse people reported high social media use, compared with 42% of female respondents and 35% of male respondents. Teenagers who used social media between one and three hours per day reported feeling more in control of their lives (61%) compared with low users (59%) and high users (51%). Moderate users were also just as likely to seek help from parents as low users (63%) compared with high users (52%), and reported less difficulty in socialising (26%) than low users (28%). Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Those who reported higher social media use also reported worse mental health and wellbeing, such as feeling negative about the future, no control over their lives and feeling lonely, the report found. This was higher among gender diverse participants who reported high psychological distress (64%) at a higher rate compared with females (35%) and males (20%). Youth mental health body Orygen said the report suggested moderation was key when it came to social media use, arguing moderate users of social media tend to fare better or very similarly to low users, 'indicating that social media is not, in itself, a problem for all young people'. 'There obviously been a dominant narrative that all social media use is bad for young people but actually what we found is that moderate users were faring better or the same as low users,' lead survey author and Orygen research fellow Dr Louise La Sala said. 'We saw that in terms of their sense of control over their lives, the hope they had for their futures, the way they were more likely to reach out to family or friends or take part in exercise in sports. 'It challenges the assumption that many of us hold that social media is inherently bad.' La Sala said gender diverse people often sought community, support and connection in online spaces, and the study could not state whether people experiencing more distress were spending more time online to seek help, or whether more time online was affecting that distress. When instituting the social media ban, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, talked up the benefits of children being off social media in order to spend more time on the football field or netball court. But the survey reveals more than half (55%) of the cohort who say they spend more than three hours per day on social media take part in sports. That rises to 67% for both moderate and low use of social media. La Sala said there was not a lot of evidence for the claim that social media use was displacing other activities. 'There are many other platforms or many other parts of the internet that will be available to young people.' Those surveyed will not be affected by the incoming ban on under-16s – with the majority aged 16 or over already. The report recommends increasing digital literacy to ensure when the ban comes into effect that teenagers aged 14 and 15 can be equipped to navigate social media when joining. La Sala said the ban should not be the end point of making social media safer for all users. 'It doesn't really matter if you're 16 or 26, you shouldn't be exposed to harmful content. The ban is one attempt at trying to mitigate some of these harms for young people but there is so much more we need to be doing, and the conversation doesn't stop there.' The federal government is due to receive a long-awaited report on technology to check ages of all users of social media and adult websites by the end of July. The communications minister, Anika Wells, will then need to decide which platforms it will apply to, and which technology should be used before the ban comes into effect in December. The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, said on Tuesday that she has recommended to Wells that the expected carve out of YouTube from the regulations should not go ahead.
The Age
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Age
How the housing crisis is fuelling a mental health catastrophe
Every day more Australians are forced to spend a huge share of income on rent or mortgages, putting them under intense stress. In 2024, all major cities hit record rental unaffordability: the National Shelter/SGS Rental Affordability Index reports that rents have surged so much that householders on JobSeeker or basic pensions now find every market 'critically unaffordable'. In Sydney the median rent is $700+ a week (30 per cent of median income) and in Perth $600+ (31 per cent). Homeownership is ever more distant, vacancy rates have collapsed, and poorer renters in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane are facing similar gaps between incomes and costs. This housing stress is now routine. A recent survey found four in five renters spend over 30 per cent of their income on housing. Over three-quarters of renters and mortgage-holders say the crisis has made them fear for their financial security. The toll shows up starkly on our streets and doorsteps. Australia's last census (2021) counted about 122,494 people as homeless on one night: including 7600 rough sleepers, and 23 per cent of those were aged 12 to 24. Meanwhile, everyday Australians tell similar stories of constant anxiety: pressure to find or keep a home, desperate rental searches, or living out of garages and boarding houses, eroding their sense of dignity. Tenants describe how endless rent hikes and knock-backs made them feel 'less human', always worried about losing any roof over their head. As housing stress deepens, Australia is also seeing a surge in mental ill-health. Decades of data show young people's psychological distress and diagnosed disorders have soared. For example, analysis of national surveys found the share of 15 to 25-year-olds with high psychological distress more than doubled from 2007 to 2021. The proportion of young Australians reporting a mental disorder in the past year jumped from 26 per cent in 2007 to about 40 per cent by 2022. In 2021–22, three-quarters of 15 to 24-year-olds had at least one chronic condition, with anxiety disorders affecting 26 per cent and depression 17 per cent. Loading Suicide and self-harm remain alarmingly high: they are the leading cause of death for young men (among injury deaths) and anxiety disorders the top issue for young women. In short, mental illness is now the single largest health burden facing teens and young adults in Australia. The pressure on mental health services is immense. GPs provide 85 per cent of mental-health prescriptions, and in 2021–22 people aged 12 to 24 already made up 23 per cent of all Medicare-funded mental health service users. Sharon Callister, CEO of welfare group Mission Australia, notes that one in five young people report severe distress and more than a fifth rank mental health as their biggest personal challenge. She warns 'so many young people are struggling with stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression', highlighting an 'urgent need for increased mental health support'. Clinics and hotlines are overwhelmed, and long waits for care are the norm, a reality far harsher for those also battling housing insecurity.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-06-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
How the housing crisis is fuelling a mental health catastrophe
Every day more Australians are forced to spend a huge share of income on rent or mortgages, putting them under intense stress. In 2024, all major cities hit record rental unaffordability: the National Shelter/SGS Rental Affordability Index reports that rents have surged so much that householders on JobSeeker or basic pensions now find every market 'critically unaffordable'. In Sydney the median rent is $700+ a week (30 per cent of median income) and in Perth $600+ (31 per cent). Homeownership is ever more distant, vacancy rates have collapsed, and poorer renters in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane are facing similar gaps between incomes and costs. This housing stress is now routine. A recent survey found four in five renters spend over 30 per cent of their income on housing. Over three-quarters of renters and mortgage-holders say the crisis has made them fear for their financial security. The toll shows up starkly on our streets and doorsteps. Australia's last census (2021) counted about 122,494 people as homeless on one night: including 7600 rough sleepers, and 23 per cent of those were aged 12 to 24. Meanwhile, everyday Australians tell similar stories of constant anxiety: pressure to find or keep a home, desperate rental searches, or living out of garages and boarding houses, eroding their sense of dignity. Tenants describe how endless rent hikes and knock-backs made them feel 'less human', always worried about losing any roof over their head. As housing stress deepens, Australia is also seeing a surge in mental ill-health. Decades of data show young people's psychological distress and diagnosed disorders have soared. For example, analysis of national surveys found the share of 15 to 25-year-olds with high psychological distress more than doubled from 2007 to 2021. The proportion of young Australians reporting a mental disorder in the past year jumped from 26 per cent in 2007 to about 40 per cent by 2022. In 2021–22, three-quarters of 15 to 24-year-olds had at least one chronic condition, with anxiety disorders affecting 26 per cent and depression 17 per cent. Loading Suicide and self-harm remain alarmingly high: they are the leading cause of death for young men (among injury deaths) and anxiety disorders the top issue for young women. In short, mental illness is now the single largest health burden facing teens and young adults in Australia. The pressure on mental health services is immense. GPs provide 85 per cent of mental-health prescriptions, and in 2021–22 people aged 12 to 24 already made up 23 per cent of all Medicare-funded mental health service users. Sharon Callister, CEO of welfare group Mission Australia, notes that one in five young people report severe distress and more than a fifth rank mental health as their biggest personal challenge. She warns 'so many young people are struggling with stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression', highlighting an 'urgent need for increased mental health support'. Clinics and hotlines are overwhelmed, and long waits for care are the norm, a reality far harsher for those also battling housing insecurity.
Sky News AU
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
'I'm mixing it up': Aussie swimming legend Michael Klim rocks striking new look as he bravely opens up about his rare autoimmune disease
Australian swimming great Michael Klim has debuted a bold new look as he launches a foundation dedicated to raising awareness and funding research into Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), the rare autoimmune condition he was diagnosed with in 2020. The 47-year-old, best known for his stellar performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where he took home gold in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, as well as silver in the 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley relay, first began noticing symptoms several years ago. Initially attributing them to the toll of elite sport, further testing revealed Klim had CIDP - a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness, particularly in the lower limbs. Appearing on The Project on Tuesday night from his home in Bali, the father-of-three showcased his new facial hair and opened up about the challenges of living with the condition. "I'm just mixing it up, you know?" he said of the goatee. "I've had one look for 47 years, so I had to come up with something different." Despite his diagnosis, Klim said he's now in a good place physically and mentally. "I'm feeling really well. Life has really stabilised physically and mentally since the diagnosis five years ago," he said, adding that the launch of his new charity, The Klim Foundation, felt like the natural next step. "I feel like I'm up for the challenge- it's going to be a big one- but I think my history has given me a lot of insight and knowledge which I can now pass onto others that are going through this pretty tough journey." The Polish-born Australian also spoke about how CIDP has affected his mobility. "My mobility is compromised," he said, explaining he uses AFOs, ankle-foot orthoses, to help him stay mobile. "With that assistance, I can still do most things. Unfortunately, some of my favourite things like surfing and playing tennis are kind of out of the question. "But I had a ski for the first time in 12 years last year, so there are still a lot of things that you can do." The goal of The Klim Foundation, he said, is to empower others living with CIDP and help them reclaim their lives. "That can be achieved through things like blood donations, AFOs, the right physios, and also having the support of counsellors," he said. "For me, mentally coming out of that hole and realising that life still had a lot to give was probably the biggest win." The foundation was founded by Klim alongside his partner of two years, Michelle Owen. It's board includes some of the biggest names in sport- Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett and even Klim's former rival, American swimmer Gary Hall Jr, who once famously said he would "smash him like a guitar". "The boys just wanted to help me raise the awareness of this condition," Klim said. "We do have a board that's got a lot of experience," he added, referencing key members like Paul Bird from Mission Australia, Mark Saubi from Mark Sowerby, and his best friend, former Olympic table tennis player David Zalcberg. "…It's going to take a group of champions to find not only a cure but to overcome this challenge." Reflecting on Hall Jr's involvement, Klim laughed as he recalled their former rivalry. "Gary - he's a diabetic, he's been in the medical field most of this life. He is probably the only Olympic gold medallist with diabetes," Klim said. "He loves Australia, even though some of the Aussies don't like him. "I'm going to make it my mission he'll be a favoured Aussie very soon."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centrelink blow for millions of Aussies as cash boost denied: 'Really tough'
The 2025 Federal Budget has not included any measures to increase Centrelink payments. Labor has thrown billions of dollars at HECS debts, cheaper medicines, childcare subsidies and energy rebates. However, there won't be any more money allocated to the millions of Australians receiving social support payments from Services Australia. A poll of more than 3,600 Yahoo Finance readers found 40 per cent supported an increase to Centrelink payments (40 per cent). Mission Australia's executive of practice, evidence and impact, Marion Bennett, told Yahoo Finance that JobSeeker was in desperate need of an increase. RELATED Centrelink recipient hits out at 'pointless' $3.10 cash boost amid calls to drastically increase JobSeeker Little-known $5,000 ATO retirement loophole revealed: 'Pretty simple' Australia's cross-generational money crisis exposed as woman living on $50 a week 'can't get work'"We are certainly seeing many more people coming to us for help than ever before," she said. "The cost of living is biting hard, and for people who are reliant on welfare payments, life is really tough. "It's really hard to pay rent, plus pay bills, electricity and whatever, to put food on the table, to pay for medical and dental expenses, expenses and everything. "And we're finding that more and more people are skipping meals so that they can pay the rent."More than 800,000 people are on JobSeeker, the second-biggest number of Centrelink recipients after the Age Pension. Mission Australia backed the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee's latest report that said JobSeeker deserved to jump to 90 per cent of the pension. That would increase the Centrelink payment from $56 per day to $74 per day. The Australian Council of Social Services believed the daily amount should rise to at least $82. The Committee's report found JobSeeker payments "continue to fall short of all benchmarks, creating sometimes severe hardship for our neediest citizens". It found there were benefits to substantially increasing the Centrelink amount including: Increasing overall well-being in Australia Lowering spending on government services Improving recipients' mental health Allowing recipients to afford medical care and purchase medicines, which could raise their capacity to participate in paid work and community activities Improve the education of families on JobSeeker Several Centrelink payments recently went up by a few dollars to keep pace with inflation under twice-yearly indexation. However, many of the people who are on these financial lifelines said it's nowhere near enough. Perth resident Damien, who's been on JobSeeker for more than five years, told Yahoo Finance that the "paltry" extra $3.10 per fortnight won't do anything to help him keep up with the cost of living. "I just scoffed at it. I just feel like not accepting it. It's not going to do us any benefit at all," the 62-year-old said. "$3.10 isn't even a litre of milk. We're supposed to be the lucky country." Linda, who is on the disability support pension, was equally furious. "That $3.50 pay rise we have just received from Centrelink is nothing short of a bloody insult," the NSW resident told Yahoo Finance. Disabled pensioner Trudi, who lives in government housing told Yahoo Finance that every time her Centrelink payments go up, so does her rent. "We get absolutely nothing, it's bulls**t," she said. "The government is slapping itself on the back, beating its chest... it's not enough, it will never be enough." The indexation that hit accounts last week affected JobSeeker, the Age Pension, ABSTUDY, Commonwealth Rent Assistance, Disability Support Pension, and the Carer in to access your portfolio
