As the father of a teenager, I was very interested in the findings of a new survey published this week, which highlight the intensifying pressures teenagers face, and who’s there to help when things go wrong.
Mission Australia’s 10th National Survey of Young Australians asked 46,000 young people to rank 15 issues according to which most concerned them. The top three results were school or study problems, coping with stress, and dealing with body image issues.
When they need help, or want to discuss their problems, parents are the first port of call for most young people, but one in five 11 to 24-year-olds say they have no one to turn to.
And what did young people say they valued most about life in 2011? The top two items were family relationships and friendships, followed by school or study satisfaction. And there was a large rise in the proportion of young people valuing getting a job.
Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 4 December 2011.
