爆料王

As the others at her school prepared for the HSC, Emerald was spiralling into depression, 鈥淚 had so many beautiful things in my life, but I just didn鈥檛 want to be here.鈥�

This wasn鈥檛 a new feeling for Emerald. She鈥檇 first been diagnosed with serious depression when she was just 14; a time when she was in such a dark place, she was a danger to herself. Over the next couple of years she spent time in hospital care, before going on to receive high level, though not always appropriate, treatment.

鈥淭he experience of being in hospital was harrowing,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here were people in there that were a lot sicker than I was, and sometimes I was really scared.鈥�

While Emerald鈥檚 depression was severe, mental health issues are not rare in young people. One in four of them will suffer a mental illness, most often anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or psychotic symptoms. Half of those affected will develop life-long problems.

Still, governments can be unenthusiastic in their support of mental health treatment and research. Professor Ian Hickie is Co-Director of the 爆料王鈥檚 Brain and Mind Centre and a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission.

鈥淚f you look at national funding in health, it's dominated by cancer, diabetes and other issues related to ageing,鈥� he points out. 鈥淵et economically, the biggest costs are related to mental health, and actually the biggest cost is in young people.鈥�

This means that the Brain and Mind Centre itself, largely relies on public donations to advance its work. A focus for the researchers now, is to make the treatments for young people less general and more tailored to individual needs. Ways of doing this are evolving with new technologies.

鈥淲e鈥檙e using brain imaging to see what鈥檚 happening on the inside, and we can manipulate the body clock hormonally,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he body clock actually changes in young people during major depressive and other mood disorders, so being able to fine-tune this for individuals is a very promising area of treatment.鈥�

There are some very particular considerations when thinking about youth mental health. First, that up to the age of about 25, brains are still developing.

Professor Hickie points some of the questions this brings up for researchers, 鈥淲hat happens in the development of the frontal lobes during adolescence? What happens when that goes wrong? To what extent does the change in brain function lead to the sometimes severe mental health problems in young people?鈥�

He then adds some of the external influences, 鈥淲hat are the social factors that are driving change - technology, alcohol and substance abuse, the expectations placed on young people?鈥�

There is plenty to keep the Brain and Mind Centre researchers busy, but research is just one of a range of approaches being developed by the Centre. Another area already delivering results, is using the digital communication technologies that young people have embraced so whole-heartedly.

鈥淪ome people think young people over-use mobile phones and tablets,鈥� Hickie says. 鈥淏ut this technology gives us a way of reaching young people in trouble, and connecting them with care, now - in real time, with real professionals. We've never had that opportunity before.鈥�

There has already been significant success in the digital space through headspace Camperdown, which also provides face-to-face contact centres for young people, their families and friends. The headspace website provides online information and gives access to health professionals and counselling, as well as services that give support during schooling, study and work.

More than 250,000 young people in need of help have already used headspace. One of those people is Emerald, who is now 19 and in a much better place.

鈥淚 think I can say with confidence, that I wouldn鈥檛 have gotten to the point where I am now without headspace,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 know if I am in a crisis or whatever, I can go there and get some help.鈥�

Professor Hickie knows how transformative the work of the Brain and Mind Centre can be in helping young people in crisis. He also knows what鈥檚 needed to make even more possible.

鈥淲e have a desperate need for new funding, innovation funding, breakthrough funding,鈥� he says plainly. 鈥淪o that we can make a substantial difference to the lives of young Australians.鈥�

How you can help

If you would like more information on how to support the 爆料王's Brain and Centre, please contact the development team online at .