Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study (IHMHS)

The Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study (IHMHS) is the largest health study undertaken in Australian history. It will provide the most complete picture we have ever had of the country’s physical and mental health.

Nearly 60,000 Australians will take part in the IHMHS from now until 2024. The information collected by the ABS will support the creation, delivery and evaluation of health policies and research over many years to help Australians live longer, healthier lives.

The IHMHS includes 4 national studies:

• National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
• National Health Study – including the National Health Survey and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
• National Nutrition and Physical Activity Study – including the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
• National Health Measures Study – including the National Health Measures Survey and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander information will be released for all components except the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. 

The ABS was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to undertake the IHMHS.

The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing is now complete. The ABS will publish the next set of results in the last quarter of 2023, covering the combined two cohorts of the study, with responses from nearly 16,000 people. The one-year follow-up of participants from cohort two will start in mid-2023.

The National Health Survey and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, as well as the National Health Measures Study (testing of blood and urine samples, where people consent to be involved) are underway.

National health surveys are globally recognised for their important role in monitoring population health status and health risk factors, including trends over time. The IHMHS will provide detailed insights into:

• The impact of mental and behavioural conditions and other chronic health conditions on Australians;
• The use of health services and barriers to accessing them;
• Factors underlying chronic conditions and obesity;
• Dietary and physical activity habits;
• Undiagnosed health conditions and nutrition deficiencies;
• Biomedical factors that contribute to poor health outcomes; and
• Lived experiences of suicide and related services.

Components of the IHMHS currently in the field:

• The National Health Survey is in the field from January 2022 through to April 2023
• The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey is in the field from August 2022 to September 2023
• The National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey are in the field from January – December 2023
• The National Health Measures Study is in the field from January 2022 through to 2024.

For more information about the IHMHS and how the information will be used, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

The Australian Health Biobank, under the custodianship of the CSIRO, has been established as part of the National Health Measures Study. For more information regarding the Australian Health Biobank please visit the CSIRO website.

Further information regarding the surveys that make up the IHMHS can be found at the following pages:

• National Health Survey
• National Health Measures Survey
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey
• National Survey of Health and Wellbeing
• Health and Wellbeing Follow Up Survey
• National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey

An overview of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study was recorded in February 2021 by the Public Health Association of Australia. To view the recording of the presentation visit Events Info - Public Health Association of Australia Inc or for a copy of the presentation slides visit Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study.