#13 The Kids Aren't Alright

Hi friends, 

I’m finally back in Sydney! The jet lag is rough so please excuse the tardiness of this week’s email - we’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming (Thursday emails) from next week!

I want to start this week’s edition with a personal story…

When I was eleven, I was diagnosed with OCD. It was a pretty rough experience for me. I remember being stuck in my head all the time, completely tormented by these compulsive thoughts and not able to imagine a world where I didn’t feel that way. It was hell.

Thankfully, I had extremely caring, astute parents who realised something was up and were able to get me the help I needed.

I responded well to treatment and was able to get rid of all my symptoms within a few months.

This is one of the reasons I care so much about Mental Health - because I know what it’s like to feel like complete shit in your head. And I also know that people can get better when they get the right treatment.

When I see a young person struggling with their mental health, my heart actually breaks.

Mental illness is tough for people of all ages, but there’s something about a kid struggling with anxiety or depression that feels so wrong.

Shouldn’t childhood be care-free, full of play and exploration?

But the rates of mental disorders in young people has been skyrocketing.

In Australia, 32% of Young People experienced an anxiety order and 14% experienced a depressive disorder in 2022. This has increased significantly since 2007.

But there’s one fact that shocked me more than the rest..

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