Young Australians struggle with cost of living, mental health: Report. Study conducted by researchers from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, Curtin University. Three in ten young women experience high psychological distress, twice the rate of their male peers. Report also raises concerns about social media’s impact on mental health, with frequent users more likely to experience anxiety and stress. The government’s proposed national social media ban aims to curb these negative effects, but experts caution that unintended consequences could arise, particularly for vulnerable groups. Australia’s higher education system also came under scrutiny, with young people frustrated by the increasing financial burden of student loans and the Job-ready Graduates Package, which have strayed from their original purpose of providing fair access to education, said co-author Prof. Mike Dockery. The study’s report, which surveyed Australians aged 14 to 25, sheds light on their biggest challenges and the changes they want to see. The report also emphasises their role in driving social change, particularly in addressing discrimination, racism, and gender inequality.