Advocacy Letter
The Hon. John Rau, MP
Minister for Child Protection Reform
GPO Box 464,
ADELAIDE SA 5001
29 October 2016
Dear Hon. John Rau,
My name is Kimberley Chamberlain. I am a Health Education student from Flinders University, South Australia. I am writing to you as I am concerned with the high number of adolescent people developing depression. I have personally been affected and believe something needs to change. To suffer from depression at a young age can be crucial for the individual later in life. It can cause them to isolate themselves from family and friends and become involved with high risk behaviour and drug and alcohol abuse.
Approximately 5% of adolescent Australians were diagnosed with depressive disorder in 2015. Untreated depression has now been identified as the leading cause of suicide in Australia (Australian Institute of health and Welfare, 2015). I believe that one of the leading causes of depression in adolescents is the ‘Early years of Life’ determinant, in particular experiences of child abuse. In an American representative study based on the National Co-morbidity Survey, adults who had experienced child abuse were two and a half times more likely to have major depression compared to those who had not (Afifi et al., 2009).
The main issue in situations of child abuse is the parents. Parents displaying forms of child abuse could be influenced by factors such as having little or no support, being uneducated on parenting or having experienced child abuse themselves (Queensland Government, 2015). These are the factors that need to be changed. ‘The Effectiveness of Parent Education and Home Visiting Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs’ study established that both parent education and home visiting programs can improve parent’s knowledge, skills and supports, and may be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect (Holzer et al., 2006).
However, parents will not particularly be on board with programs such as the one just mentioned if they are unaware of the future problems they may cause for their child or if they believe there are no issues with their parenting styles. I am aware that your government states that child abuse prevention programs are a top priority, however, our society does not know if you will continue to spend increasing amounts of money on these sorts of programs.
I am asking that your government increase public awareness of any child abuse prevention programs and ensure our society that you will continue to provide funding for such programs. I believe it would be extremely beneficial to state to the public that child abuse, and consequently, adolescent depression is an immense problem within Australia and needs to be reduced. All parents should have access to any information regarding child abuse. Parents exhibiting any forms of child abuse need to be 100% aware of the programs they can attend and the possible damages they can cause their child in the future.
I look forward to your response.
Kind Regards,
Kimberley Chamberlain
Minister for Child Protection Reform
GPO Box 464,
ADELAIDE SA 5001
29 October 2016
Dear Hon. John Rau,
My name is Kimberley Chamberlain. I am a Health Education student from Flinders University, South Australia. I am writing to you as I am concerned with the high number of adolescent people developing depression. I have personally been affected and believe something needs to change. To suffer from depression at a young age can be crucial for the individual later in life. It can cause them to isolate themselves from family and friends and become involved with high risk behaviour and drug and alcohol abuse.
Approximately 5% of adolescent Australians were diagnosed with depressive disorder in 2015. Untreated depression has now been identified as the leading cause of suicide in Australia (Australian Institute of health and Welfare, 2015). I believe that one of the leading causes of depression in adolescents is the ‘Early years of Life’ determinant, in particular experiences of child abuse. In an American representative study based on the National Co-morbidity Survey, adults who had experienced child abuse were two and a half times more likely to have major depression compared to those who had not (Afifi et al., 2009).
The main issue in situations of child abuse is the parents. Parents displaying forms of child abuse could be influenced by factors such as having little or no support, being uneducated on parenting or having experienced child abuse themselves (Queensland Government, 2015). These are the factors that need to be changed. ‘The Effectiveness of Parent Education and Home Visiting Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs’ study established that both parent education and home visiting programs can improve parent’s knowledge, skills and supports, and may be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect (Holzer et al., 2006).
However, parents will not particularly be on board with programs such as the one just mentioned if they are unaware of the future problems they may cause for their child or if they believe there are no issues with their parenting styles. I am aware that your government states that child abuse prevention programs are a top priority, however, our society does not know if you will continue to spend increasing amounts of money on these sorts of programs.
I am asking that your government increase public awareness of any child abuse prevention programs and ensure our society that you will continue to provide funding for such programs. I believe it would be extremely beneficial to state to the public that child abuse, and consequently, adolescent depression is an immense problem within Australia and needs to be reduced. All parents should have access to any information regarding child abuse. Parents exhibiting any forms of child abuse need to be 100% aware of the programs they can attend and the possible damages they can cause their child in the future.
I look forward to your response.
Kind Regards,
Kimberley Chamberlain
references
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015, Profile of Depression in Australia, Australian Government, accessed 29/10, retrieved from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442459188
Gonzalez, Andrea et al., 2012, "Childhood and Family Influences On Depression, Chronic Physical Conditions, And Their Comorbidity: Findings from The Ontario Child Health Study". Journal of Psychiatric Research 46.11 (2012): 1475-1482. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.08.004, accessed 25/10
Holzer, J., Higgins, JR., Bromfield, L., Higgins, D., 2006, The Effectiveness of Parent Education and Home Visiting Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs, Australian Government, accessed 26/10, retrieved from: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/effectiveness-parent-education-and-home-visiting-chil#
Gonzalez, Andrea et al., 2012, "Childhood and Family Influences On Depression, Chronic Physical Conditions, And Their Comorbidity: Findings from The Ontario Child Health Study". Journal of Psychiatric Research 46.11 (2012): 1475-1482. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.08.004, accessed 25/10
Holzer, J., Higgins, JR., Bromfield, L., Higgins, D., 2006, The Effectiveness of Parent Education and Home Visiting Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs, Australian Government, accessed 26/10, retrieved from: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/effectiveness-parent-education-and-home-visiting-chil#