Australia is facing a crisis that no parent can ignore. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has confirmed what teachers, counsellors, and families have been seeing for years. Our young people are not coping. Anxiety, depression, and psychological distress are spreading through teenagers and young adults at an alarming pace and the numbers are rising every year.
It is no longer a matter of only a few children struggling. The statistics now reveal something much bigger. They are painting a picture of a generation wide collapse in mental wellbeing.
The Alarming Statistics Every Parent Needs to Know
The ABS recently released its National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. The findings are deeply troubling for any parent.
• 38.8 percent of Australians aged 16 to 24 had a mental disorder in the past year
• This is a 47 percent increase since 2007 when the figure was only 26 percent
• Young women are most affected. Almost half of females aged 16 to 24 now report a mental disorder with anxiety being the most common
• Anxiety is the number one condition and shows up in crippling worry, panic attacks, school avoidance, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviours
• One in five young adults aged 16 to 34 report high or very high levels of psychological distress. This is double the rate of older Australians
These are not just numbers. They are a reflection of the daily reality for families across the country. Almost every household knows a teenager or young adult who is struggling and many parents are carrying this weight every single day.
The Real Face of Anxiety
Anxiety is no longer just nerves before an exam. For many young people it has become the constant background of their lives. The symptoms can be devastating.
• Panic attacks that leave teens gasping for breath
• School avoidance because walking into a classroom feels unbearable
• Sleep problems caused by racing thoughts that never stop
• Performance anxiety in sport music or academics that robs them of joy
• Obsessive worry and compulsions that keep them stuck in exhausting loops
When left untreated anxiety rarely fades away with age. Instead it solidifies into patterns that spill into adulthood. Careers can be limited, relationships strained, and depression or unhealthy coping behaviours often follow.
Why This Should Scare Every Parent
These statistics are not about a small group of vulnerable young people. They reveal a tipping point across the entire generation. If almost half of young women and nearly 40 percent of young men are being diagnosed with mental disorders before the age of 25 what will this mean for their future work life, for families, and for the resilience of our communities
This is not only about individual suffering. It is about an entire generation being robbed of confidence, freedom, and hope.
Where Do We Go From Here
Looking at these numbers can leave parents feeling helpless. Yet there is still hope. Mental health challenges, especially anxiety, respond well to early intervention. The earlier a young person learns the skills to manage emotions, reframe unhelpful beliefs, and calm their nervous system, the less chance these struggles will turn into lifelong battles.
How NLP Brings Hope
Neuro Linguistic Programming, or NLP, is a powerful tool that helps young people rewire their thinking, break free from fear, and build calm and confidence. Unlike traditional talk based approaches NLP works with the unconscious mind where limiting beliefs and patterns of anxiety are stored.
Through gentle and practical techniques NLP can help children and teens
• Break the cycle of anxious thoughts
• Learn strategies to calm their body and mind in stressful moments
• Rebuild self belief and resilience
• Replace fear with motivation and focus
At Calm Kids Coach I have seen how quickly young people can shift once they are given the right tools. Anxiety does not have to define their school years, their friendships, or their future.
The statistics from the ABS are shocking. Nearly half of young women and almost 40 percent of young people overall are struggling with mental health challenges. Anxiety is leading the way. But while the numbers are bleak they do not tell the whole story. Every young person has the potential to turn things around when they are supported early.
With the right guidance children and teens can learn to step out of anxiety and grow into calm capable and emotionally strong adults.
If your child is showing signs of anxiety do not wait. The earlier you act the brighter their future can be.