MORE than half of local youth recently surveyed by council are concerned about having nothing to do, while adults are mostly concerned about drug and alcohol use amongst youths.
Swan Hill Rural City Council last week released its draft youth strategic plan for 2015-2019 and is asking for the public to send in submissions.
The plan was informed by a survey of 1100 Swan Hill and Robinvale youths, youth service providers and parents and community members.
The survey revealed 52 percent of young respondents listed “boredom/nothing to do” as one of their top three concerns, while 47 percent listed keeping up with school work and 38 percent listed body image.
Service providers flagged drugs (33 percent), mental health (28 percent) and alcohol (18 percent) as the top three issues of concern they noticed most for young people.
Half of parents and community members thought drugs, and in particular ice, was their biggest concern for youths, while boredom and alcohol (especially underage and binge drinking) came in next with 24 percent and 21 percent respectively.
Swan Hill mental health social worker and psychotherapist Liz McDonald said the issues of boredom and substance abuse were often interrelated.
“It’s important to note that in changing any addictive or unhelpful behaviour there must be a more positive behaviour or activity to replace it with,” Ms McDonald said.
“Thus in rural areas limited social or recreation options means changing negative behaviours is a greater challenge.
“Also, when families and peers are also challenged by negative attitudes in regard to drinking or drug use, a person may cease use or even attend rehab but once [they’re] back in the same environment it is hard to maintain change.”
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (July 13).
