Anxiety, mood disorders rose sharply among Australian youth, study says
A study found that mental health disorders among Australians aged 16 to 24 rose sharply between 2007 and 2022, with researchers warning COVID-19 was not the only factor.
Mental health disorders became more common and severe among Australians aged 16 to 24 between 2007 and 2022, according to a study reported by Medical Xpress. Anxiety, mood disorders, suicidal thoughts and disability all increased. Researchers warned, however, that COVID-19 did not account for the entire trend.
The findings have renewed attention on mental health awareness and access to treatment, including in Nigeria. Advocacy has grown there, but many people still struggle to reach care.
The share of young Australians meeting the criteria for a mental disorder rose from 23.4% in 2007 to 36.2% in 2022. Severe disorders increased from 14.7% to 24%, while anxiety disorders rose from 12.2% to 29.1% and mood disorders from 4.9% to 13.3%.
About one in five young people reportedly had more than one disorder in 2022. Mental health issues were still more common in women, but they also became more common in men. Substance-use disorders followed a different pattern, falling from 14.7% to 9.9% during the period.
The study drew on national Australian surveys conducted in 2007 and 2022. Researchers said most mental health problems accelerated during the COVID-19 period but had already been increasing before the pandemic.
Professor Tim Slade of the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre said the rise could not be explained only by young people becoming more willing to report symptoms. A youth advisory group cited economic insecurity, unstable work and housing, disruption to education and the mixed effects of digital media as possible pressures. The research did not test these factors as direct causes.
In Nigeria, consultant psychiatrist Dr Ojo Tunde Massey-Ferguson said awareness and advocacy had grown. He attributed much of that work to individuals and non-governmental organisations who use social media and other electronic platforms.
He said stigma still delays care, with some people linking mental health conditions to witchcraft or spiritual attacks. According to the psychiatrist’s account in Independent Newspaper Nigeria, these beliefs can lead to discrimination and discourage people from seeking clinical support.
Massey Ferguson identified access to care as Nigeria’s main challenge. He called for more government funding, mental health services in primary healthcare centres, cooperation across sectors and updated laws and policies.
He also described the Lunacy Act as outdated and referred to efforts to pass a mental health bill. The supplied material does not give the interview date or confirm the bill’s current status. The material provided does not independently verify his estimates of about 250 psychiatrists and that only about one in 10 people needing treatment receive care.
The Australian findings suggest that the pandemic may have intensified an existing rise in mental health problems rather than caused it alone. They also show why awareness campaigns must be matched with affordable, reachable services and better data.
For Nigeria, the size of the treatment gap remains unclear without current official figures. More complete national data would help policymakers measure demand, plan services and assess whether public discussion is leading to earlier care.
