Money worries and relationship troubles make Generation Y the most stressed out generation (Australia)

MONEY worries and rocky relationships are making young people the most stressed-out Australians, a new survey shows.

The Australian Psychological Society says Australians in their 20s and 30s are feeling more stressed and depressed than older people. The under-35s are reporting "significantly more concerns'' about mental health issues than other Australians, its latest national "stress and wellbeing'' survey reveals. Personal financial issues trigger the most stress, affecting six in 10 young people, followed by family issues, which "stress out'' half.

But fewer than half the baby boomers worry about money - they fret more about family and health issues. Study is a key stress trigger for the under-25s, along with "relationship and friendship issues''. One in three of the under-35s are worried about work. The young are the most likely to deal with stress by playing video games, visiting social networking sites, listening to music or sleeping more. And they are more likely than older people to avoid people or situations that stress them out.

Half Australia's adults say they feel stressed over their finances. "People are more stressed about their jobs this year and more worried they could lose their jobs,'' APS executive director Lyn Littlefield said yesterday. "The high rate of anxiety and depression is quite surprising. "I think people are much busier and there's much more going on in their lives they have to cope with.'' The national "stress and wellbeing'' survey shows that men tend to drown their sorrows with alcohol. Women prefer retail therapy, comfort eating or talking through their problems with friends or family.

Work worries and parenting problems are driving Australians to the counselling couch, with a 20 per cent surge in stressed and depressed patients in taxpayer-funded therapy. Nearly a million Australians are using Medicare-subsidised counselling with a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker each year. The number of patients in therapy is growing by 20 per cent annually - 10 times faster than the number on anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) yesterday called on doctors to discourage the "pill-popping'' culture of anti-depressants, used by one in 10 adults.

AMA president Steve Hambleton said it was often better to resolve problems or use positive thinking than to "pop a pill''. "Reaching for a pill is not the right decision on many occasions,'' he said. "We need to be thinking about talking therapies, and counseling. Part of the problem in our society is we seek an 'instant fix' view that's not realistic. Let's look at the environment (that is causing stress) and try to fix it first.''

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists president Maria Tomasic warned that some people feeling stressed might be suffering from a chronic anxiety disorder, depression or schizophrenia that needs medical treatment. "GPs are time poor and often are having to make a very quick diagnosis, so it's important they get it right,'' she said. "Many people are undiagnosed and untreated. You often have to convince people that medication will be beneficial.'' Professor Littlefield said Australians were starting to lean less on anti-depressants. "People don't always need it, and doctors are prescribing it less because people are accessing psychological treatments,'' she said. "You can easily learn about how to reduce your expectations about the amount you have to do, and learn to look at things more positively. People are learning 'I can manage, I can cope' problem-solving strategies.''

Source: news.com.au 

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