A new study from the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre finds a sharp increase in severe mental illness among Australians aged 16 to 24 over 15 years, with concerns over social pressures and early intervention.
A new study from the Matilda Centre at the University of Sydney suggests severe mental illness among Australians aged 16 to 24 has risen sharply over the past 15 years, with suicidal thoughts more than doubling. The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, indicate that the share of young people meeting diagnostic criteria for anxiety, mood or substance use disorders climbed from 23.4% in 2007 to 36.2% in 2022.
The most striking change was in the proportion classed as having severe disorders, which increased from 14.7% to 24%. Tim Slade, who leads epidemiology and biostatistics at the Matilda Centre, told the Brisbane Times the rise was not simply a matter of more low-level stress being recorded. He said the data showed a substantial increase in young people whose symptoms were affecting multiple parts of their lives.
The study is notable because it compares diagnostic data across several mental health conditions over time, rather than relying only on self-reported distress. According to reporting on the research by China.org.cn and SCImex, the rates were rising before the pandemic and the authors do not attribute the trend to COVID-19 alone. The same reporting said alcohol use declined overall, while drug use disorders remained steady and tended to be more severe.
The research also drew on a youth advisory board, which helped shape its interpretation. Georgie Berry, 22, wrote in an accompanying essay that dismissing younger people as “snowflakes” misses the point, arguing that the pressures of housing costs, loneliness and broader insecurity are driving distress. She said the situation reflected “an illogical social landscape”, while the advisory board described social media as both a support and a source of harm.
Nicola Palfrey, head of clinical practice at Headspace, said the rise likely reflects both greater willingness among young people to seek help and worsening symptoms. She warned against treating social media as a simple explanation for a complex problem. Slade said the findings point to the need for earlier intervention, noting that nearly two-thirds of mental disorders begin before age 25 and arguing that prevention should be a greater priority.
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