{"id":5452,"date":"2020-09-11T01:34:28","date_gmt":"2020-09-11T01:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/castancentre.com\/?p=5250"},"modified":"2020-09-11T01:34:28","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T01:34:28","slug":"mental-health-happiness-of-australian-children-among-the-worst-of-rich-countries-according-to-unicef-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/09\/11\/mental-health-happiness-of-australian-children-among-the-worst-of-rich-countries-according-to-unicef-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental health, happiness of Australian children among the worst of rich countries, according to UNICEF reporT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Professor Paula Gerber<\/strong> and Sue West <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report<\/a> published by UNICEF last week examined the happiness and wellbeing of children in the world\u2019s richest countries. The data from the report was used to also compile a “league table”, and the results are a source of shame for Australia. Not only did we rank 32 out of 38 overall, but when it comes to the mental health of our children, we’re doing even worse \u2013 35 out of 38 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s going wrong?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why are children in “the Lucky Country” not enjoying high levels of life satisfaction? Why is suicide the highest cause of death<\/a> among adolescents aged 15 to 19? Australia, we have a lot of work to do \u2013 it’s clear that wealth doesn’t buy happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data for this report was collected before the global pandemic struck, demonstrating that Australian children were already struggling. COVID-19 will only exacerbate that. Although children don\u2019t suffer the worst of the virus\u2019 health impacts, they’re the group that will most acutely experience the longer-term negative impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statistics regarding youth suicide should sound an alarm. In Australia, we experience 9.7 deaths by suicide per 100,000 adolescents aged between 15 and 19. The vast majority of wealthy countries have far lower rates than this, starting with Greece, which experiences only 1.4 deaths by suicide per 100,000 adolescents aged between 15 and 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We already know that Indigenous young people are three times more likely to kill themselves<\/a> than non-Indigenous youths. Concerted and targeted efforts to improve the mental health of children must be inclusive of Indigenous children, families and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The climate effect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How children feel about their future affects their mental health, and the data reveals that our children worry a lot about the environment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In Australia, 59% of young people consider climate change to be a threat to their safety (only 14% disagree). Climate change and plastic pollution top their list of environmental concerns. Almost 90% want to move to renewable energy, while only 3% want to \u2018stay with fossil fuels\u2019. Three out of four adolescents in Australia want their government to act.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This suggests that acting on climate change would have a direct positive impact on children\u2019s sense of wellbeing and contribute to positive mental health outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia cannot ignore this damning report. We must promise our children that we will do better, and that by 2030, all children in Australia will be thriving. This requires action on many fronts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start early<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We need to get things right for children starting in early childhood, when 90% of brain development occurs. The evidence<\/a> tells us that children thrive when they have strong relationships, supportive environments, and social infrastructure that supports families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consult children and families<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A key factor in children\u2019s happiness is whether they feel they have a voice. Therefore, reforms to improve their wellbeing must be made with children, not just be about them. Children and their families must be included in the design and implementation of all initiatives that concern them. This is consistent with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/a>, which provides that children have the right to express their views, and to have those views taken into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Social, education, health, environmental and economic policies, programs and services all have a bearing on children\u2019s lives. Carefully integrated policies that complement and strengthen one another and provide the environments and conditions for optimal child development are key to improving child wellbeing. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n