The+Lost+Generation

Ramona Summers n8328048

=**Is Generation Y the luckiest generation yet? or just the most lost?**=

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‘Lost Generation’ by Jonathan Reed won second place at AARP’s U@50 video competition, which was launched in 2007. Reed was asked to create a video, no greater than 2 minutes, which described his vision of the future and what life would be like by the time he turned 50. The poem ‘Lost Generation’ was inspired by an Argentinean political advertisement entitled “The Truth” and is a Palindrome. That is, the poem can be read forward and backward. Initially we are presented with the negative stereotypical view of Generation Y, however when we symbolically reverse the poem and reverse these negative pathways it is clear that there is future hope.

__**Public Health Issue**__ Mental health can be defined as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO, 2001).

The Mental health in Generation Y is quickly becoming the biggest health issue facing youth today. Approximately a quarter of young Australians will be affected by mental illness at any stage, this includes anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress or mood illnesses such as depression and bipolar. The effects of poor mental health are devastating, and with such alarming statistics why do youth continue to binge drink at concerning levels, feel alone or feel the need to have the perfect body? And why is it that only one in four of these cases have received professional help? (Department of Health and Ageing. 2009).

The ever-changing social and cultural environments in terms of technology, education and even climate change mean that the ways in which we address these growing concerns must adapt. This new environment also creates new challenges, one only needs to view the above video to understand the negative stereotypes generation Y are faced with. The health system needs to understand and cater to this new context. “//It needs to start listening to what we are saying and what we are asking for. To know what works best for us, the system has to become youth-friendly and youth-oriented.//” (Vittoria Tonin, Platform youth participation program, ORYGEN Youth Health, 2007)

__**Literature Review**__ Today many characterize Generation Y as a kind of super sized generation X. Larger in number, more individualistic, diverse, in-your-face and consumer obsessed. On the surface gen Y appear to be the luckiest generation yet, levels of technology exceeding our wildest imaginations, social media is breaking down boundaries, television, travel, jobs, education, human rights. But recent figures, especially in regards to mental health, seem to prove that this might not be so true. Many new opportunities seem to reverse and become a detriment. Cyber bullying, addiction, increase of family breakdown, binge drinking, climate change, rising unemployment rates and crime. It seems Generation Y may not be the most lucky generation yet, but perhaps the most lost.

Poor mental health among young people can be a precursor to self-harm, thoughts about suicide, and suicide (Patel et al. 2007). Along with this young people with mental disorders may also experience stigma, which often leads to isolation and discrimination (Corrigan 2005). Research highlights the countless effects poor mental health can have on sufferers, also its effect on other areas in life. Young people with a mental health disorder are more likely to have lower educational attainment, experience joblessness and have poor physical health (AIHW, 2008)

The mental health status of Australian youth is alarming. Evidence from the Australian Bureau of statistics proves the mental health of young Australians to of the upmost importance when addressing public health issues in generation Y. Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals that 26% of people aged 16 to 24 suffered mental illnesses in 2007. That’s 650,000 people. Anxiety problems including panic attacks, OCD and post-traumatic stress were the most common with 15% of young people affected. Around 13% suffered conditions related to dependency on alcohol or other drugs. A further 7% had mood illnesses such as depression and bipolar. Sadly suicide accounts for up to 19 percent of male deaths and 15.9 percent of female deaths. More concerning, it is estimated that only one in four cases have received professional help (Department of Health and Ageing. 2009).

Research in the mental health of youth is expanding as trends in levels of mental illness continue to rise. This growing epidemic is not only a concerning issue in Australia but also globally as Mental disorders account for a large proportion of the disease burden in young people in all societies. ( Hetrick, S. 2007). In Australia, in the ages of 15-24 years mental illness accounted for 55 percent of the total burden of disease. Mental illness is the leading contributor to the total burden of disease and injury compared to any other condition within this age group (Department of Health and Ageing. 2009).

Research and statistics also highlight the mental health of younger generations as a key public health issue that has future implications. Suffering, functional impairment, exposure to stigma and discrimination, and enhanced risk of premature death (Hetrick, S, 2007.) create obvious significance in regards to health. This significance is amplified, since mental disorders in young people tend to persist into adulthood.The risks of mental illness lasting further than youth and into adult life are a cohesive concern in research on the issue as disorders now can have a strong influence on mental disorders later in life (Patel et al. 2007).

Currently, responsibility for young people’s mental health is currently split across multiple levels of government. It is the responsibility of our health system to increase the levels of those in Generation Y, receiving help when it comes to mental health. Social and cultural factors influence not only mental health but also can determine whether an individual will seek professional advice. These cultural and social determinants can be observed using The National Youth Information Framework. This provides a comprehensive set of indicators across a range of dimensions that will help monitor the health and wellbeing of young Australians. (AIHW, 2010).

Young people need youth-friendly services that recognise and respond to their special cultural and developmental needs. Our health system needs to take the next step forward in removing the barriers between health professionals and young people. A system, which was more specific to youth, would strengthen the existing system with a better-targeted stream of care, providing access to integrated mental health, substance use, and vocational-recovery services. ( McGorry, P, 2007).

__**Social and Cultural Analysis**__

Socially the strong belief in the importance of self as well as virtues of self reliance and independence are observed not only by those outside of Gen Y, but often openly admitted by those inside it. The strive to be unique is a generally a thriving factor in the choices made by individuals in this generation. Social groups and peers essentially form decisions and identity to some degree. Influencing music, clothing or body image, individual cultures are created and of course states of emotional or mental stability can often be a reflection of this. There are growing trends in social groups or cliques and individuals often define themselves to such clusters in a bid to find social identity as well as the open strives for individualism, but through abiding to such groups they often become the collective. It is then that such groups become labeled.

Young people from different backgrounds are faced with different levels and types of stresses in their life. This includes socio economic status, geographic location, family breakdown or education. Cultural barriers may also play a role in young people’s willingness to use services (Anderson et al. 2004) The high influence of media is emerging as a key risk factor in poor mental health. The social networking culture of generation Y means that cyber bullying and online addiction are becoming more and more common. Cyber bullying involves the use of electronic means to cause harm; harm caused includes low self-esteem, self-harm, depression and suicide. These are facets of mental health not yet experienced by any other generation.

Media also plays another role in the perception of body image. Being constantly online, scrolling social networks, blogs, articles or watching TV, generation Y are bombarded with ideals of beauty and perfection. This triggers feelings of low self-esteem, low self confidence, depression and can lead to frightening eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Socio economic status effects mental stability. Of young people living in areas of lowest socioeconomic status (SES), an estimated 13% had high or very high levels of psychological distress compared with 9% for those living in the highest SES areas (AIHW, 2011). Growing up in a poor household increases the risk of exposure to adversities such as scarcity of food, poor nutrition, violence, inadequate education, and living in a neighbourhood characterised by absence of social networks, all of which are risk factors for mental disorder. ( Hetrick, S, 2007).

The high prevalence of family breakdown and divorce is mention in the above cultural artifact. Family and family behaviour essentially shape our individual cultures, It is evindent that our family influence he way we act and therefore mental stability. Young people living in families with parental mental disorderor substance abuse, discord between parents, marital violence, and breakdown, are at greater risk of mental disorders. ( Hetrick, S, 2007).

Specifically in Australia, Indigenous Australians suffer higher levels of poor mental health and this is also the case in young aboriginal and torres strait islander people. In 2008, an estimated 31% of Indigenous young people aged 16–24 years had high or very high levels of psychological distress. Indigenous females were more likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress than Indigenous males (35% and 26%, respectively) (AIHW 2011).

When you look at it broadly we can see gen Y’s have a lot on their plate. Increase of family breakdowns, excess television viewing, increased levels of crime and violence, rising unemployment rates, body image, binge drinking, peers and mass media and even climate change. On the surface we seem to be the luckiest generation yet, but the figures I have mentioned above prove this might not be so true.

__** Artefact Analysis and Reflection **__

I personally find the poem by Jonathan Reed both confronting and inspiring. Being in Generation Y myself I am well aware of the negative stereotypes placed on us by older generations, and sometimes you begin to believe it yourself. That our generation is “apathetic and lethargic”, that we won’t live to see a green world, that we will be divorced. Our generation seems to have a lot on our plate and our mental health status exemplifies this. Ending the first half of the poem with the words “there is hope” and restarting it with the same words in an entirely different light I personally find refreshing as well as encouraging. When the lines are read forward we are given a pessimistic message and when they are read backward we gain an optimistic message. Initially the poem seems to be a pessimistic monologue it highlights the negative expectations placed on Generation Y and echoes sentiments that are often found in the news or online.

“//Once upon a time Families stayed together// // But this will not be true in my era” //

// “Environmental destruction will be the norm” //

//“I do not concede that I will live in a country of my own making//”

Through such statements we can reflect on the mental health of Australian youth, in terms of climate change, family breakdown and loss of self to name a few. The tone of the poem initially and how it is read in the video symbolises melancholy feelings of low self worth and depression. However when read backwards the poem paints a polarizing view, it illustrates a brighter future. For the mental health crisis of Australian youth this hopeful future could mean the implementation of new public health programs and changing the approaches of the health care system. This brighter future can very well come true, if we choose to reverse the current trends.

__**Discussion Task**__


 * Page: Falling through the cracks- The Australian Mental Health System**
 * Link: http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/message/view/Falling+Through+the+Cracks-+The+Australian+Mental+Health+System/45747390**


 * I found your wiki very informative and interesting. I also did a majority of my research on mental health in Australia. The rates of mental illness in our country are alarming, but it is more concerning that so few sufferers receive the professional help they need, especially when the services are there. Prevention, promotion and early intervention are incredibly important for the future of mental health in Australia, as you mention. I feel that this early intervention should positively be targeted at the younger generations. If we can reduce levels of mental illness in young Australians, overall levels of mental illness will continue to decrease, as these individuals grow older. But I definitely feel the ways in which we address these generations needs to change, and we need to encourage them to seek health services more readily. How do you think we could alter the context of these services to create this change? **


 * Page: Is the price we pay for consumer-obsession and individualism really worth it**
 * Link: http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/message/view/Is+the+price+we+pay+for+consumer-obsession+and+individualism+worth+it%3F+/45747732**

I loved your choice of cultural artefact! When I saw what you had chosen I was quite jealous that I hadn’t thought to use it. It is definitely true that our generation is consumed by fashion and popular culture trends. It seems strange, that we constantly feel the need to have the latest iphone or the best dress. We never stop to think about its effect on our mental stability either. When I watch movies like “Confessions of a Shopaholic” I find it easy to judge, to think “this is so stupid” or that “I’ll never let that happen to me”. However personally I actively engage in a not so healthy shopping addiction. It really puts things into perspective.

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Corrigan, P. (2005). On the stigma of mental illness: practical strategies for research and social change. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Retrieved 3rd October from []

Hetrick, S. (2007). Mental health of young people: a global public-health challenge. The Lancet (British edition), 369 (9569), p. 1302.

McGorry, P. D. (2007). The specialist youth mental health model: strengthening the weakest link in the public mental health system. Medical journal of Australia, 187 (7), p. S53.

Patel, V. Flisher, A. J., McGorry, P. (2007). Mental health of young people: a global public- health challenge. The Lancet. 369(9569):1302–13.

Patel, V. Prince. M, Saxena, S., Maj, M., Maselko, J., Rahman, A. (2007). No health without mental health. The Lancet, 370(9590):859–77.

Veldhuizen, S. (2007). Evaluation of 2 Measures of Psychological Distress as Screeners for Depression in the General Population. Canadian journal of psychiatry, 52 (2), p. 111.

WHO. (2010). Young people: health risks and solutions. Fact sheet no. 345. Retrieved 18 October 2011 from www.who.int/mediacentre/ factsheets/fs345/en/