Commissioner warns about tragic link between alcohol, drugs and mental illness
Human Rights Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski welcomed a recently-released national survey from Mission Australia which highlights issues of concern to our nation’s youth.
Dr Ozdowski said it was not surprising that drug and alcohol use was an issue of great concern to young Australians; however he also warned that mental health issues such as depression and suicide were still a cause for paramount concern amongst this age group.
“Throughout this year, I have been conducting extensive national community consultations on mental health care in conjunction with the Mental Health Council of Australia, and the story that is unfolding is not a pretty one,” said Dr Ozdowski.
“I listened to many, many first hand accounts from young people – or the families of young people - that attended these consultations and talked about the tragic link between alcohol, drugs and mental illness.
“One of the main concerns was there is increasing evidence that widespread use of common drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and alcohol is contributing to an increased rate of mental illness among young people.
“We need to be clear on this issue; if young people take these substances they are basically playing ‘Russian roulette’ with their health.
“A lot more needs to be done to ensure that our young people are well educated about the potential risks. More importantly, we need to ensure that we have sufficient resources being allocated to early intervention programs right across the country so that young people can get quality care when they first become unwell.
“We can’t leave young people alone struggling with the symptoms of their mental illness until they reach a point where they turn to drugs and/or alcohol to alleviate their pain and suffering.”
Dr Ozdowski said there had to be greater accountability in expenditure of mental health funds and more effort put into early intervention and prevention services. He called on the Federal and State Governments to renew their efforts to examine the shortfalls in mental health services, particularly for young people.
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Last updated 18 November 2004.
