Prolonged unemployment harmful to health - AMA
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that International Youth Health Day is an appropriate time to recognise the links between unemployment and the poor health of young Australians.
Dr Glasson said more than 40 per cent of the world's unemployed are classified as youth.
"In Australia, nearly 25 per cent of our young adults do not have full-time jobs or are not undertaking study," Dr Glasson said.
"This rate rises dramatically in Australia's Indigenous population where almost 75 per cent of young people are not in full-time employment or education.
"Australia is one of the few countries in the OECD where school retention declined during the 1990s."
Dr Glasson said the health of young people is negatively affected by poverty, poor education, lack of parental support, unemployment, and other social environments that promote alcohol and other drug use, unprotected sex and violence.
"Youth suicide and other youth mental health issues have been linked to unemployment.
"Unemployed young people are also likely to experience higher lifestyle risk factors such as cannabis and tobacco use, and high alcohol consumption.
"We live in a society where meaningful employment can increase feelings of self esteem and wellbeing.
"The current rates of unemployment mean that many of Australia's young people are at risk of poor health. This does not augur well for our future.
"It is now well documented that unemployed people have worse health that people who have jobs.
"The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has reported links between unemployment and poor health. In the 1995 National Health Survey, unemployed youth were least likely to report health status in the excellent to very good categories.
"GPs and other specialists who deal with adolescent health see first hand the impact that unemployment has on the health of our young. While Governments are working towards long term solutions, society at large need to understand the connection between poor health and unemployment. Solutions are linked to developing strategies to encourage employers to take on the employment of our young people.
"After all, Australia's future lies in the health of its youth," Dr Glasson said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306