Further Facts/Statistics
In 2007 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) conducted the second National Survey of
Mental Health and Well-being. The survey involved 8,800 people aged over 18 and living in private dwellings in all States and Territories of Australia.1
Mental illness in the adult Australian population
- Almost one in five Australians had experienced a mental disorder at some time during the 12 months before the survey.
- Younger people were more likely to experience a mental illness. Prevalence of mental disorders declines with age. 26% of 18-24 year olds had experienced a mental disorder, while only 5.9% of people aged 65 and over had experienced a mental disorder.
- Men and women experience similar rates of mental illness, but rates are highest for men and women living alone. Similarly, rates of mental disorder were higher among people who were separated or divorced (17% for men and 19% for women).
- Women are more likely than men to experience anxiety disorders (18% compared with 11%) and affective disorders (7.1% compared with 5.3%).
- Men were more than twice as likely as women to have substance abuse disorders (7% compared with 3.3%), with alcohol use disorders being more common than drug use disorders.
- Women were more likely to have anxiety and affective disorders in combination and men were more likely to have substance use disorders in combination, with either affective or anxiety disorders.
- People unemployed or not in the paid workforce had the highest rates of mental disorder, a prevalence rate of 26% for unemployed men and 34% for unemployed women.
- Anxiety disorders were most common, followed by affective disorders 6.2% (of which depression is 4.1%), and substance use disorders – 5.1% (of which 4.3% is alcohol related).
- Those with a mental disorder averaged three days out of role (i.e. not undertaking normal activity because of health problems) over a four week period. This compared with one day out of role for people with no physical or mental condition.
- Only 35% of people with a mental disorder had used a health service during the survey period.
- Hospital admissions for mental health problems were rare – less than 1% over the 12 month period.
- Women were more likely than men to use services for mental health problems.
The mental health of young Australians
The Child and Adolescent Component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being2 is the first survey to investigate the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents in Australia. 4500 children aged 4-17 years were surveyed using interviews with parents and adolescents.
- Adolescents with mental health problems report a high rate of suicidal thoughts and other
- health-risk behaviour, including smoking, drinking and drug use.
- 12% of 13-17 year olds reported having thought about suicide, while 4.2% had actually made a suicide attempt. Females had higher rates of suicide ideation than males.
- 23.1% reported smoking, 36.7% reported drinking, and 18% said they had used marijuana.
- 14% of Australian children and adolescents aged 4-17 have mental health or behavioural problems.
- This rate of mental health problems is found in all age and gender groups. Boys were slightly more likely to experience mental health problems than girls.
- There is a higher prevalence of child and adolescent mental health problems among those living in low-income, step/blended and sole-parent families.
- 21.1% of males and 22.1% of females with weekly household incomes of less than $580 experienced mental health problems, compared to 8.9% of males and 9.1% of females living in households with a weekly income of more than $1030.
- 25% of m ales and 19.7% of females living in step/blended families, and 22.2% of males and 26.7% of females living in sole parent families experienced mental health problems, compared to 11.3% of males and 10.7% of females living with their original parents.
- Only one out of every four young persons with mental health problems had received professional health care.
- Family doctors, school-based counsellors and paediatricians provide the services that are most frequently used by young people with mental health problems. Younger children (4-12) were more likely to visit paediatricians and family doctors, while older children were more likely to visit school-based counselling services.
- Even among young people with the most severe mental health problems, only 50% receive professional help. Parents reported that help was too expensive or they didn’t know where to get it, and that they thought they could manage on their own.
Gender and mental illness
- Women are more likely than men to experience depression and anxiety disorders, while men are more likely to experience substance abuse.
- One in five recent mothers will experience a mild, moderate or severe form of post-natal depression.
- Though men and women are affected by schizophrenia in approximately equal numbers, women tend to experience later onset, fewer periods of illness, and better recovery.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder is equally common in males and females.
- Up to 90% of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) occur in women.
- Sexual disorders, especially exhibitionism and fetishism, are much more common in men.
- Gender differences in different types of mental illness are influenced by cultural backgrounds.
Myths about mental illness
Myth: mental illness is a life sentence
- Mental illness is not a life sentence. Most people will recover fully, especially if they receive help early. Some people may require ongoing treatment to manage their illness.
- Some people have only one episode of mental illness and recover fully. For others, mental illness occurs only occasionally with years of wellness between episodes. For a minority of those with a more severe illness, periods of acute illness will occur regularly and, without medication and effective management, leave little room for recovery.
- Many kinds of treatment are available. Not all involve medication.
- Though some people experience significant disability as a result of a chronic mental illness, many others live full and productive lives while receiving ongoing treatment and medication.
- Many people experiencing mental illness delay seeking help because they are frightened by the illness and fear stigma and discrimination. Reducing the stigma will encourage more people to seek help early.
- Most people with a mental illness are treated in the community, and most consult GPs.
Myth: mental illnesses are all the same
- There are many types of mental illnesses and many kinds of symptoms or effects.
- Though a particular mental illness will tend to show a certain range of symptoms, not everyone will experience the same symptoms - for example many people with schizophrenia may hear voices, while others may not.
- Simply knowing a person has a mental illness will not tell you how well or ill they are, what symptoms they are experiencing, or whether they may recover or manage the illness effectively.
- Mental illnesses are not purely 'psychological' and can have many physical features. While a mental illness may affect a person's thinking and emotions, it can also have strong physical effects such as insomnia, weight gain or loss, increase or loss of energy, chest pain and nausea.
Myth: people who are mentally ill are violent
- Research indicates that people receiving treatment for a mental illness are no more violent or dangerous than the general population.
- People living with a mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence, especially self-harm. It has been calculated that the lifetime risk of someone with an illness such as schizophrenia seriously harming or killing another person is just .005%, while the risk of that person harming themselves is nearly 10%.3
- There appears to be a weak statistical association between mental illness and violence. This seems to be concentrated in certain subgroups, for example - people not receiving treatment who have a history of violence, and those who abuse drugs or alcohol. However, the association between mental illness and violence is still weaker than the association between violence and alcohol abuse in general and between violence and being a young male between the ages of 15 and 25.4
Myth: some cultural groups are more likely than others to experience mental illness
- Anyone can develop a mental illness and no one is immune to mental health problems.
- People born in Australia have slightly higher rates of mental illness that those born outside Australia in either English-speaking or non English-speaking countries.
- Many people from culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee backgrounds have experienced torture, trauma and enormous loss before coming to Australia. These experiences can cause significant psychological distress and vulnerability to mental illness.
- Cultural background affects how people experience mental illness and how they understand and interpret the symptoms of mental illness.
Sources of information on mental illness
Key research sources
The Australian Bureau of Statistics National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being (1997)5 provided the first national data on prevalence of mental illness in the adult population in Australia. This was updated in 2007 with a further National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing6.
The child and adolescent component surveyed 4-17 year olds, and is reporting in The Mental Health of Young People in Australia (2000)7.
Other key sources of data on mental health and illness include:
Clearinghouses
Reports on Indigenous health and welfare, burden of disease and injury
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
www.aihw.gov.au
(02) 6244 1000 (general)
(02) 6244 1025 (media)
- Australian Institute of Family Studies
www.aifs.org.au
(03) 9214 7888 (general)
(03) 9214 7804 (media)
- Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet
www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au
(08) 9370 6109
Mental illness data
Independent research centres -
Research on nature, origins and causes of mental illness, diagnosis and treatment
Research and policy on mental illness
- State Health Departments (see the Contacts section of this website for details)
- Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
www.mentalhealth.gov.au
(02) 6989 1555
- Mental Health Council of Australia
www.mhca.org.au
(02) 6285 3100
References
1 ABS (2007) op cit
2 Sawyer, M. et al (2000) op cit
3 Sane Australia (2003). Factsheet 5. Violence and mental illness
4 Ibid
5 ABS (2007) Mental Health and Well-being: Profile of Adults, Australia, Canberra
6 Pirkis, J., Blood, W.R. et al., (2008) op cit
7 Sawyer, M. et al (2000) Mental Health of Young People in Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
