*WARNING: This article deals with mental illness and suicide, and could be triggering for some readers. For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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Earlier this year Meg Betts hit rock-bottom. Having lived with anxiety and depression most of her life, the 20-year-old attempted suicide. Describing it as an emotional switch that flicked in her brain, Ms Betts said it was the lowest time in her life. It came after months of risk-taking behaviour including alcohol and drug abuse, something Ms Betts said she used as an "escape" for her troubles. She thought she had it under control, but she didn't. She also never thought she needed help, until she asked for it. Now things are looking up.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, substance use disorders are among the most common of mental health disorders experienced by young people. In Australia, 12.7 per cent of people aged between 16 and 24 are estimated to have a substance use disorder. However, despite the high prevalence, research shows young people with substance use disorders don't recognise or seek help for the problem.
For Ms Betts, many people in her life didn't realise she was abusing drugs and alcohol. With a smile on her face, she said it was "too easy" to fake being well every day, despite feeling overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts.
"When I turned to alcohol and drugs, it was like I was doing nothing wrong," she said. "I look back on it now and I didn't know what I was doing. It was, to me, an escape. The way I felt on it, was better than what it was outside of that world. Unfortunately it sucks to admit that, but it's just how it was. In public I would have a smile on. It was easy to fake being well, but I wasn't."
For the past few months, Ms Betts has been receiving treatment at Headspace Launceston. But she said the decision to ask for help did not come easy. After attempting to end her life, Ms Betts said she was filled with a deep sense of shame. She was also worried about being judged for her behaviour.
"You can go out on the streets and see someone get stabbed or shot or beaten-up, but you don't have the whole community in your bathroom when you are breaking down in tears, wanting to take your own life. It's such a taboo topic," she said.
"For me, it's a time thing - hour by hour, day by day. Especially because, when you turn to drugs and alcohol, you don't want to tell anyone. You feel very guilty and ashamed. That is half the reason why people might not ask for help.
"It was easy for me to turn to drugs and alcohol. It doesn't matter why you turn to it, but it doesn't make you a bad person. You are just having a bad time."
Studies have shown the prevalence of substance use and abuse increases with age during adolescence and peaks in early adulthood. Overall, about half of people with substance use disorders first experience substance use issues by the age of 20.
Caroline Thain, a mental health occupational therapist and the co-clinical lead at Headspace Launceston, said it could be easy for family and friends of young people to see risk taking behaviour as common, without recognising its role within the "bigger" mental health picture.
"Many people might think of drugs and alcohol in isolation," she said.
"We know that young people will risk take, because it's part of that adolescent phase. But some young people have more vulnerabilities. There might be stresses happening at home, impacting their mental health.
"There is a misconception that it's a part of adolescence. And it absolutely can be. But it's about making sure people have the right education to know when it's becoming a problem and helping people to seek help, without worrying about judgement.
"In Meg's case, you could say she was more vulnerable to taking drugs and alcohol. So in lots of ways, it's not surprising she took that path."
On September 24, Headspace Launceston will host an alcohol and other drug use information session - the second in a series of community forums aimed at informing friends and family around a range of mental health conditions.
For Ms Betts, having someone ask her if she was OK acted as a major wake-up call to seek help.
"It wasn't until a few people asked me - 'look what's going on. Are you OK? You're not being yourself' - that was the biggest thing," she said.
"I honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong. I thought I was just having a moment. I was stressed out. As soon as someone asked if I was OK - it woke me up. The first step in helping yourself in that sort of situation is acknowledging you have a problem. But it's not easy and it's not the same for everybody."
Ms Thain said one of the biggest misconceptions around substance use disorders within the broader mental health picture, stemmed from a culture of placing blame.
"Part of it is about understanding - yes, young people will take risks and part of that can be under that broad umbrella of drug and alcohol use," she said. "But actually, it is multi-factorial and it is different for every young person. We want this forum to be about - how do the friends and family of young people then navigate that path and put in boundaries, but make the right decisions and get help when they need to. To know what the warning signs are and how to get help."
The alcohol and other drugs information night will be held at the Tailrace Centre on September 24 from 6.45pm. Visit headspace.org.au for more information.
- Lifeline 13 11 14