Tragedy of Tormented Teenagers Mental Illness Hits One in...

Many young Australians suffer from mental illness and are exposed to serious risk of harm. It is found that more than one in four teenagers suffer a mental illness and most are not identified or treated (Mcdougall, 2013). Mental illness is the largest risk factor that causes suicidal behaviour and serious psychological distress in young people (Australian Government, 2013). According to Mcdougall (2013), the life expectancy for people with mental illness is 15 to 20 year lower than other Australians. Child and adolescent psychologist Carr-Gregg, states that despite of high prevalence of suicide, 80 per cent of adolescents with mental illness do not acknowledge the illness and remain untreated (as cited in Mcdougall, 2013). In the context†¦show more content†¦In the study of Yap, Reavley Jorm (2013), the attitudes of young people aged 15-25 were categorised into five stigma scales; social distance, personal weakness, personal dangerousness, perceived weakness by others and p erceived dangerousness by others (Yap, Reavley Jorm, 2013). Yap, Reavley Jorm (2013) conclude that young people who perceive mental illness as an indicator of weakness and cause of social distance were less likely to seek for professional help. However, the participants with a belief that mental illness is dangerous and unpredictable showed more intention for seeking professional help (Yap, Reavley Jorm, 2013). This suggests a strong correlation between help seeking actions and belief towards the mental illness. Another suggested explanation that contributes to high prevalence of untreated young people with mental disorder is that there still is â€Å"no coherent national service framework, no service model, few care guidelines and continuing poor accountability† (Mcdougall, 2013). Mendoza argues that there hasn’t been a progress in lifting life expectancy of people suffering mental illness in 30 years since Richmond reform was released (Mcdougall, 2013). The Richmond reform which was released in 1983, recommended the downsizing of large psychiatric institutions and establishing special funding of community based facilities to treat psychiatric disorder (mhcc, 2013). It made its intention to expand non-government services to developShow MoreRelatedVideo Games: A Contemporary Scapegoat2374 Words   |  10 Pagesthunderous voice rumbling, Finish him! This is Mortal Kombat – one of, if not the, most popular fighting game franchises ever created. At its conception in 1992, it was hit with a hard wall of controversy for its heavy use of gore and the general fear it would influence children to reenact these so-called â€Å"fatalities† in real life. Ever since the 1970s, man was finally able to interact with the screen, creating a universe written in ones and zeros. However, does the screen speak back to us, and cause