A snapshot of today's Australian youth shows:
28% of teens binge drink on a regular basis.
37.7% of youth have used illicit drugs.
48% of girls will try extreme weight loss methods.
1 in 4 youth will have suffered depression by age 18.
10 young Aussies commit suicide each week.
Self-harm has risen by 51% between 1996 and 2006.
Today's Australian youth belong to a generation that understands the plight of the poor and needy. When given the opportunity to respond to injustice, they often do so with incredible passion. Evidence clearly indicates that providing young people with the opportunity to address some of these needs can often make such an impression on young people that it drastically improves their behaviour and lifestyle.
Statistics courtesy of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Research courtesy of National Youth Affairs Scheme.
