A report just out by the Victorian Agency for Health Information on the state of the mental health of our young people when compared to the same period last year, reveals –
– Average weekly emergency department presentations of children and young people to age 17 yrs UP 27% !!
– Number of teenagers rushed to hospital following self-harm and suicide behaviour UP 51% !!
– New eating disorder cases in young girls 12 to 17 yrs UP 34% !!
Speaking about the increase in suicides among young people, Prof. Patrick McGorry said “What is happening in our suburbs is a SHADOW PANDEMIC”