Every day over 40 young Australians find out their mum or dad has cancer

Every day over 40 young Australians find out their mum or dad has cancer. The research released by CanTeen shows that these 40 young people are 6 times more likely to be at risk of mental health issues than their friends.
CanTeen is a national support organisation for 12 - 24 year olds who are living with cancer, and is the only organisation of its kind in Australia.

In response to this research, CanTeen is launching a national campaign designed to raise public awareness about the mental health issues that can arise in young people when dealing with a parent’s cancer.

Peter Orchard, CanTeen CEO: “This research clearly identifies the scale of mental health issues that are apparent in this group of young people. The findings speak for themselves – young people in society today are dealing with more life choices and pressures and adding a parent’s cancer to the mix significantly increases the risk of developing anxiety or depression.

The campaign, which was launched nationally on November 15, include radio, TV, cinema, online and print coverage.