gen-y-

** Student number: n8286019 ** ** Tutor: Michelle Newcomb ** ** Topic ** Is Gen Y too ‘individualistic’ and ‘consumer-obsessed’? What is the mental health of this generation like? ** Cultural Artefact ** [|We All Want To Be Young]  media type="youtube" key="MaSYa0QNVUM?rel=0" height="720" width="960" // We All Want To Be Young // is a video by a Brazilian research company whose field of specialisation is behavioural sciences and consumer trends. It explores the beauty of youth over the present three generations; baby boomers, X and Y. Created in 2010, this piece employs qualitative research which took five years to gain and observes an uncontrolled sense of consumerism undertaken by Generation Y. It deals with the way this generation has the ability to influence and start trends and just how easily they can achieve this. This is shown as a compilation of the decades, beginning at the youth movement in the 50s/60s and ending in the present. ** Public Health Issue ** This artefact portrays what it is to be young and the impact the youth movement has had on each generation following it. This essay will explore the mental health of generation Y in relation to their consumerism. It will critically analyse how these two are interrelated and the impact this has on the nation’s youth. Furthermore this health situation will focus on depression and other behaviours that can stem from this. Bombarded by technology that is constantly changing, Generation Y can become addicted to their surroundings. Dr Jerald Block, says that there were four symptoms he found people had when suffering from feelings of withdrawal when a computer cannot be accessed. These included: “an increased need for better equipment (and a) need for more time to use it.” (Block, 2007). ** Literature Review ** In 2007, one in four young Australians had a mental health disorder (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007). This is a major public health issue in the country and can be linked to past generations. According to the World Health Organisation, 20% of adolescents around the world will having experienced mental health problems (World Health Organisation, 2011). Mental Health is defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. (World Health Organisation, 2011). These statistics are shocking and show how this current public health issue is not only faced in Australia. This constant flow of consumerism into our lives has a major impact on the mental health of the nation’s youth. The impact of society’s focus is on money and status, which in turn raises depression levels. 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression (World Health Organization, 2011). One in four people will experience some form of depression between the ages of 12 and 25 and this often leads to self-harm, psychosis or suicidal behaviour. A University of Queensland study found that people that self injure are twenty-four times more likely to attempt suicide. According to the Inspire Foundation, one person will have attempted suicide in every year twelve classroom, and suicide is the leading killer among young people (Inspire Foundation, 2011). When talking about whether Gen Y are ‘consumer obsessed’, it is important to realise that “by the age of 18, the average young person has viewed over 500,000 TV commercials, in addition to internet, radio and outdoor ads” (McCrindle, 2010). Many of these ads are purely hyped up commercials and are left unnoticed however others can stay with the viewer, this is making it more important to choose the right filters in their lives. This can cause a fear of being overwhelmed and forces the generation to express themselves or seek people who accept them; which can lead to buying material items in order to do this. This desire to have everything has had a major influence on the mental health of this generation. Members of generation Y generally have no financial commitments, a study from the Australian Lifestyles Survey found that over 70% of their income is spent expeditiously, with the majority going on entertainment, travel, and food. The top 3 spare time activities among Gen Y’s are: going to a party, listening to the radio and going to a movie. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001). Berenyi, on generation Y facing hard economic times writes, “Generation Y is either: a) Doomed because they've never really had to work and, besides, mommy and daddy will take care of them, or; b) Uniquely poised to take advantage of the downturn because they're cheaper, more flexible and, besides, they'll be scarce as the workforce ages. Cynics may be tempted to pick "a," but "b" is likely closer to the truth.” (Berenyi, 2009). Berenyi writes with truth, many of those members of generation Y are given everything and there are numerous examples of cynics publishing their views of this. However as they think ‘in a nonlinear fashion’ and are inundated with information, they are capable of learning things and retaining the important information. According to the artefact, Millennials/Gen X, are 'the most plural youth generation,' to date. “Medical professionals now consider it (depression) an illness like diabetes or heart disease, saying that it affects the entire body, not just the mind.” (Linsenmayer, et al. 1999). A deep level of depression can lead to suicide, and “although substantial efforts have been made to understand what risk factors contribute to suicide and suicidal behavior, lessattention has been paid to clinical features that may protect against the emergence of suicidal behavior duringmajor depression.” (Malone, et al. 2000). In the same study by Malone et. al, depression sufferers were tested with a methodology of their reasons for living and the results showed that a mix of social and cultural factors were the major reasons. “Assessment for living should be included in the evaluation of suicidal patients” (Malone, et al. 2000), in order for the patient to think about why they continue living and this in turn reinforces their own feelings and beliefs which could potentially save them. ** Cultural and Social Analysis ** Thanks to globalised consumerism, youth around the world have an access to information and this can be helpful. For instance, groups such as Youth Beyond Blue can help youth and combat depression and anxiety through this use of technology. Some ways they have taken advantage of technology includes their own Youtube channel, with a series of videos where practical advice is offered on where to start when looking for help. There are also links to videos made by real people that have faced these challenges and they talk about their struggles with depression and how they overcame it. Cultural forces that influence suicide (which can be led to from heavy depression) can be narrowed down to six factors ranging from religion to sociopolitical attitudes. “Life is all we have and is better than nothing,” “I am afraid of the unknown,” “My religious beliefsforbid it,” “It would not be fair to leave the children forothers to take care of,” and “I believe I have control overmy life and destiny,” (Malone, et al. 2000). One in four people will experience some form of depression between the ages of 12 and 25. There is no particular cultural group that this is faced by; upper class, middle class and lower class youth are all susceptible to facing depression. Awareness is an important factor to be created in order to help combat this issue. “Publicity campaigns to raise awareness of diseases and health services have worked in the past.” (Linsenmayer, etal. 1999). Furthermore, a publicity campaign that is aimed at raising awareness about depression, including not only the symptoms, but the treatment “may help take the stigma away and encourage sufferers to seek treatment.” (Linsenmayer, et al. 1999). Therefore creating discussion of the subject in turn makes people more accepting and comfortable to discuss it further and/or seek help for themselves or others. “Although one in five people suffer from depression in their lifetime, more than eighty percent of people who have it improve with treatment. Growing awareness of this problem has caused unprecedented growth in the expansion of facilities to deal with it, but those facilities reach only a fraction of those they could help.” (Linsenmayer, et al. 1999). It is recommended that public health experts focus on awareness not only for more facilities but for there being a lessened stigma attatched to the subject. This is of such importance because many sufferers choose to not get help or treatment because of a certain stigma attached to depression. ** Analysis of the Artefact ** This artefact represents, as the title suggests, what it is to be young. It explores how youth from the past three generations have worked and how they have changed from one another and how technology has now changed everything. This piece makes some really important points and touches on so many topics, all the time remaining entertaining and engaging for the viewer. This supports my argument perfectly as it talks about also global consumerism and how this leads to anxiety amongst generation Y. As a negative, the voice chosen as the voice over did not sound youthful and if this was better chosen, the video would have that one little thing it is missing. We are constantly bombarded with the cynics of our generation and this piece was a revitalising burst of energy into the search for artefact examples. I really feel like I resonate with this; I feel like it captures what it is to be young and explains it in such a beautiful manner that, even though I am still in my youth, makes me feel nostalgic for it. As a result of this assessment piece I have learnt such a vast amount; I never knew how many people suffered from depression and how it is linked to global consumerism and technology. I feel as though this piece will affect my future learning in many ways, one reason is the fact that when searching for information, it is best to start with the basics and work your way up and it reinforces all that you have learnt along the way. ** Reference List ** Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010). One //in four young Australians have a mental health disorder: ABS.// Retrieved from: []
 * Name: Alanna Parker **

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2001). //Australian Lifestyles Survey 2001.// Retrieved from: []

Block, J.J. (2007). Pathological computer use in the USA, in 2007 Symppsium on the Counselling and Treatment of Youth Internet Addiction. //Seoul, Korea, National Youth Commission.// 16(8). 433. Retrieved from: []

Berenyi, V. (2009, Mar 18). Recent grads suffer recession 'anxiety'; pampered generation Y faces challenge of adapting to hard economic times. //Edmonton Journal,// pp. G.7. Retrieved from []

Inspire Foundation. (2011). Helping Young People To Lead Happier Lives. Retrieved from: []

Linsenmayer, M., Scheffrahn, M., McLain, M.E., Brenner, D. (1999). Frequencies and Demographics of Depression. Texas, United States of America. Retrieved from: []

Maceil, L., Leidke, L., Rodrigues, R. (2010, November 10). We All Want To Be Young. Zepplin Films. Retrieved from: []

Malone, K.M., Oquendo, M.A., Haas, G.L., Ellis, S.P., Li, S., Maan, J.J. (2000). Protective Factors Against Suicidal Acts In Major Depression: Reasons For Living. //American Journal of Psychiatry//, 157; 1084-1088. Retrieved from: []

McCrindle, M. (2010). Understanding Generation Y. The Australian Leadership Foundation. NSW, Australia. Retrieved from: []

World Health Organisation. (2011). Mental Health: Depression- What is Depression? Retrieved from: []

World Health Organisation. (2011). Mental Health: Strengthening Our Response. Retrieved from: []

RESPONSE 1: This piece was really interesting to read, I thought you made some really strong points and added interesting pieces of information, such as that 'even with the large budget allowance, the cultural stigma towards mental disorders in Eastern culture is preventing sufferers to seek treatment.' This matches research that I have found as well and

I also think it was a good point made when you talked about using Hugh Jackman to support the cause as a way of appealing to both genders. I found your reasoning to be spot on.

Great use of theory such as your use of Freud and Hippocrates; your use of quotes was perfect as they did not speak for you.

In your learning reflection I was interested to see how this has affected your learning, if at all however I did not see this in the section.

I would have liked to have read more of a cultural and social analysis as I think you could have made some more interesting points for your case however overall this was an informative piece to read and you have done a great job. http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/message/list/Seriously+R+U+OK%3F

RESPONSE 2: Great choice of topic Rachel, this is such an important issue in our society right now and I was interested that you chose the NO H8 campaign, I haven’t seen it before reading your assignment and I thought that the ‘It gets better’ campaign is much bigger and has a lot of star value but when reading through, I can see that this campaign is rather large.

I think that it would have been really interesting to look at Lady Gaga and her role in the legalisation of gay marriages in New York.

I loved your concluding sentence, “ I believe that with the generational shift in years to come we will hopefully ALL (myself included), be more accepting of this alternative lifestyle and grant them this equality as humans to love and marry whom ever they shall choose.” I think that this statement supports your table //Do you think gay or lesbian relations between consenting adults should or should not be illegal?//

Your literature review was very interesting to read as well and your use of quotes was excellent. I think you’ve done a great job.

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