Generation+Y-+Revolutionising+what+young+people+do+and+taking+risky+behavior+to+a+new+level

Name: Ermina Jusic Student Number: n7092695 Tutor/Time: Judith Meiklejohn, 12pm-1pm Thursday.
 * __Generation Y – Revolutionising what young people do and taking risky behaviour to a new level. __**

**Topic ** How healthy is Generation Y? What are the key public health issues facing this generation, and what are the driving social and cultural forces behind these issues?

**Artefact ** [] This Video titled Drinking Competition- Beachcomber Island, Schoolies 09' shows the alarming binge drinking culture amongst teenagers at large social events such as schoolies. These adolescents are celebrating the end of their school life by attending a weeklong celebration usually at the Gold Coast where the number one goal is to drink to get drunk/’smashed, hammered’ all day everyday for the seven days they are there. As it can be seen these boys are consuming large amounts of alcohol in a very short amount of time, whilst competing against one another to see who can drink the most in the shortest amount of time.

**Public Health Issue ** It comes as no surprise to the general population including the naive generation Y community that this sub population group is under a lot of scrutiny and pressure when it comes to how they treat and take care of their health. Generation Y is facing many public health issues that are now more than ever before frowned upon. These issues are the use of drugs, the abuse of alcohol, tobacco smoking and sexual behaviours. Generation Y is currently creating an “out with the old and in with the new” type of attitude where anything they do, however they do it and whenever they do it is the way it will be for the future, this is especially proving to be true and evident when it comes to their current lifestyle choices and habits. An example of this is their simple dependence on technology with leads to laziness, then to impatience, which makes them sedentary, which then creates physical and mental health problems such as obesity and emotional distress.

**Literature Review ** Illicit drugs can have many detrimental, negative and harmful effects on people and their community. According to the Australian Government, Department of Health and Aging (2011) drugs can affect a person’s relationship with others, their ability to study and work productively, efficiently and effectively, it can have undesirable effects on ones mental health and quality of life. As evident from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007) Statistics on drug use in Australia report, illicit drug use has surprisingly remained steady fluctuating slightly, however ultimately remaining unchanged. Marijuana and cannabis to this day continue to be the most widely used illicit drug between 1991 to 2004, while meth/amphetamines such as speed being second in 1991 and ecstasy edging ahead in 2004 at 3.4% (AIHW, 2007). Alcohol is a part of Australia’s culture and has been for many generations. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2011) puts it consuming alcoholic beverages is a common attribute of social gathering. Alcohol is the most widely used and available psychoactive and mood changing recreational drug in Australia (AIHW, 2007). The AIHW (2007) state that excessive consumption of alcohol over time increases the risk of developing cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, cognitive problems and dementia and alcohol dependence the also state that short term risks are measured by consumption per day these consist of injury, motor vehicle accidents and or death. Apparent consumption of alcohol per capita in 2002–03 had reached a similar level in Australia to that recorded between 1964 and 1965 that is 7.0 litres per capita. The AIHW published in 2007 statistics on drug use in Australia that showed wine consumption in the last 40 years has increased significantly and surpassed consumption rates of other forms of alcohol. Consumption of beer reached its peak in the mid 1970s at 136.5L per person, and then decreasing to 91.5L per person. This could be because beer was more consumed by baby boomers and generation X when they were younger. Spirit consumption is more of a trend set by Generation Y, recently peaking in the mid 1990’s at 1.4L per person and then declining to 1.2L per person in the early 2000’s, that however is not to say it won’t go up significantly in the near future as more gen y pupils reach alcohol drinking age acceptance amongst their peers at an age of 15years. (AIHW 2007).

Tobacco use has noticeably declined over the last few years. This is due to heavy government regulations such as bans and advertising and a lack of social support for this addictive drug. According to the AIHW (2007) Generation X is more likely to suffer from cigarette health related issues than gen Y. The AIHW (2007) published a report titled //Statistics on drug use in Australia// which demonstrates that in 1991 Generation X and others represented 24 per cent (%) of the population aged 14 years and over who were daily smokers compared to 17% of the population who were aged 14 years and over who were daily smokers from generation Y, which proves that this generation is changing the view and acceptance of cigarettes amongst society. Let’s be clear as to what smokers inhale every time they put their mouth on a cigarette, according to the WHO (2011) tobaccos is a product containing leaf tobacco as raw material and contains the highly addictive psychoactive ingredient nicotine. Tobacco increases the risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases such as cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease (WHO 2011). It is only through constant deterrents such as heavy advertising and zero social acceptances that we can continue to see its use decline in the future. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Sexual behaviour amongst Australian teenagers is not taken seriously by Generation Y and the risks it carries when performing unsafe sexual behaviours. According to the Victorian (Vic) Government (2011) 9.4% of teenagers do not use any form of contraceptives when they are in a sexual encounter. One in four year 10 and half of all year 12 students have had vaginal intercourse (Victorian Government, 2011). The Vic government (2011), states that medical abortions in the 1990’s were the second most common hospital procedure for Australian women between the age of 12 and 24 years. In the late 1990’s there were 22 abortions per 1,000 teenagers, which is one of the highest rates of abortion after the USA, Hungary, New Zealand, UK and Canada (Victorian Government, 2011). These figures should not be taken lightly by people performing same sex intercourse nor anyone else as there is a risk of increased STI’s and HIV spreading.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cultural and Social Analysis ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Generation Y community members living in today’s era are particularly affected by alcohol and tobacco abuse, sex and safety, more so than their predecessors from Generation X and the Baby Boomers generation. This is due to generation Y becoming the most individualistic yet most socially influenced group of people ever known by any generations before them. This is largely due to the progression in every aspect of life each generation has experienced through time which has now lead to the most flexible, technologically advanced, open minded, diverse, lazy, inpatient and frowned upon generation Y changing life as we know it, to something that can simply be defined as evolutionary. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The term Generation Y has many definitions that are different to those associated with generation X and the Baby boomers. According to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, Generation Y (born between 1981 to late 1990’s) can be described as possessing these characteristics: confident, sociable, moral, street smart, diverse, technologically savy, lack skills for dealing with difficult people and multi-taskers who need flexibility. Mix these characteristics in with general teenage risk taking behaviour and there is great opportunity for a public health epidemic to explode regarding this generation, especially in comparison to the last 20 plus years of this country’s history with alcohol tobacco abuse, sex and safety for people who fall in this age group. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If future, past and present health experts and the general population are constantly made aware of, informed and educated about this new public health issue then together as a community, society, city, state and nation we can be proactive in minimising the effects of such risk taking behaviour and to some extent realistically change their attitudes, beliefs and values regarding these matters. This action needs to be taken to ensure each and every generation that goes to live in this great country has the equal opportunity, right and privilege to experience everything the world has to offer at its most simplistic level. This is an essential topic for discussion as Generation Y is most directly and significantly affected right now and in the years to come. Next are their predecessors such as Generation X whom for most are their parents and then it is their grandparents from the baby boomers generation. Finally there are the future generations such as the up and coming generation Z who will most directly be affected by the behaviour, views, beliefs and attitudes of Generation Y. There is no simple way as to how nor answer as to where public health experts need to focus on to “fix” this problem. A good place to start is to tackle the mental and emotional aspect of people’s wellbeing and to incorporate the technological advancements in society in new ways that don’t affect ones emotional, psychological/mental, physical and social wellbeing. This is a global public health issue that needs a collective approach over a reasonable period of time if one wants to seen any significantly positive public health and generational changes in the future.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Analysis of the Artefact and your own learning reflections ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This video demon straights that teenagers are influenced by their peers, social settings and their own desire to challenge their own risk taking behaviours. In this video it is clear that there is a lot of peer pressure involved that is influencing the teens competing in this binge drinking game. It is scenes such as these that are worrying health professionals. Images and videos like this one are always displayed in the media as a way of directing negative thoughts and attitudes towards Generation Y. The media influences many young people as when they see a certain behaviour being publically advertised they believe it is okay to display this type of unsocial behaviour publically. Many teens such as the ones in this video thrive on attention they receive when they are doing activities that are very risky and can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. When a teenager from Gen Y sees a fellow Gen Y do something risky they follow in their footsteps in the hope of being recognised for their unjust risky behaviour. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">To me personally what my fellow Generation Y members are doing is worrying, however I believe that with time they will mature, and there is always going to be a future generation that is going to look even worse than Gen Y. I believe that the way the media portrays Gen Y is targeted to have a negative impact on them and in a way that will sustain them large profits. No matter what generation we look at there will always be and has always been a number of people who do things that are seen as unacceptable and damaging to health.

**<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">References ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Government, Department Of Health and Aging (2011). Drugs Campaign- Information for Youth. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007. Statistics on Drug Use in Australia. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">State Government Of Vitoria, Better Health Channel (2011). Teenagers – Sexual Behaviour. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, //Overcoming// Generational Gaps in the Workplace. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">World Health Organisation, (2011). Alcohol. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">World Health Organisation, (2011). Tobacco. Retrieved from <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[]


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Learning Engagement and Reflection Task **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chlamydia, MTV and Pornography – Generation Y’s Sexual Revolution by Samuel Kevin Bianchi <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Great Job in presenting the facts and making it known to people like myself that there are huge cultural aspects that affect sexual behaviour/intercourse. The facts on STI’s surprised me. I completely agree with what you where saying through your page. I like the title of your wiki and I think your artefact is great!, it really helped prove your points and back up your statements.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don't Break a Sweat Girl, You'll Bring Attention to Yourself! By <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cara Powell <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love the title! Being a female sports person myself I totally see where your argument and facts are coming from. It is such a shame that us women are not equally recognised for our sporting efforts and achievements as our male counterparts. I find it very frustrating that the media has so much influential power over us. On one hand they are promoting the sexploitation of both genders in particular women when it comes to body image and what one should look like, saying it is not okay to be fat or outside of the desired “norm” they have created. Yet when a women tries to participate in physically challenging activities such as playing sport where there is a high energy expenditure requirement where she will definitely not look pretty while she is sweating and breathing out heavily they portray her as gross or unimportant by not recognising her achievements and contributions, when she is trying so hard to keep fit or to fit into the socially acceptable and desired norm of a thin woman. Great video by the way! J <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.