A new study has found school work to be the number one cause of stress among Australian teenagers.
Alarmingly the report also reveals that many don’t talk to anyone when they are struggling.
The 2021 MyStrengths Youth Wellbeing Report surveyed nearly 10,000 high school students aged 11-18 years to understand how stress, sleep, social media, and relationships are impacting teen mental health.
The report found 66 per cent of teens felt stressed about their schoolwork and 42 per cent cited it as their biggest worry.
Other causes of stress included:
– Feeling anxious about what might happen (41 per cent)
– Self-esteem/feeling low (35 per cent)
– Friend problems (27 per cent)
– Family difficulties (27 per cent).
The biggest worries among teens included what they will do in the future (38 per cent), the way they look (34 per cent), what people think or say about them (31 per cent) and missing out on their goals (24 per cent).
The report found that many teens weren’t seeking help – professional or otherwise. One in three students (32 per cent) don’t talk to anyone when they are struggling. Teens who do reach out are more likely to turn to a friend (45 per cent) than a parent. However, 62 per cent said they feel understood by their parents.
Only per cent of students surveyed seek support from their teachers at school.
The report also found students who go to bed later are more likely to experience mental health challenges.
The release of the report coincided with the launch of MyStrengths’ Raising Resilience course, a 10-step course designed to turn the tide on teen mental health. The course includes videos and daily challenges for parents to watch with their teens.
