Teen wellbeing

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A world-first review into youth mental health describes a lack of action as a "scandal" that is having big implications for the health, wellbeing and productivity of young people.

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health report, published today, is the culmination of four years' work by more than 50 leading psychiatrists, psychologists, academics and young people who have experienced mental illness throughout the world.

Lead author Professor Patrick McGorry said it was clear governments were "failing young people".

"Over the last 15 to 20 years, we've seen an alarming rise, a 50 per cent increase in the need for care in this age group [in Australia]," Professor McGorry said.

Led by Orygen, Australia's Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, the report has called for existing evidence-based solutions to be scaled up, stating that "even when these illnesses do not cause death, they are the largest and most rapidly growing cause of disability and lost human potential and productivity across the life span".

"Young people have been termed as the snowflake generation, lacking in resilience," Professor McGorry said.

"It's not just that we neglect them.

Urgent call to transform care

For Finlaey Hewlett, the report was a bittersweet acknowledgement of their own difficulties in accessing support for mental health issues that began when they were just eight years old.

"I grew up in regional, Western Australia and so the there was a real distinct lack of support and resources out there, especially for young people," they said.

"I couldn't even leave my house."