Study paints picture of mental disorders in Australia
More than two in five (43.7 per cent) Australians aged 16-85 years have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, according to findings released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Linda Fardell, head of health and disability statistics at the ABS, said the new National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (the Study) paints a comprehensive picture of mental disorders in the community, and gives a snapshot of wellbeing.
“At the national level, the Study shows that 43.7 per cent (8.6 million) of Australians aged between 16 and 85 have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life,” Ms Fardell said.
“In 2020-21, one in five people (21.4 per cent) experienced a mental disorder. Anxiety was the most common group of mental disorders; 16.8 per cent of all Australians had an anxiety disorder, 7.5 per cent had an affective disorder such as depression, while 3.3 per cent had a substance use disorder.”
The Study also shows that around 1.1 million (39.6 per cent) of young adults aged 16-24 years experienced a mental disorder in 2020-21.
“Almost half (46.6 per cent) of young females and one third (31.2 per cent) of young males aged 16-24 years had a mental disorder in 2020-21, with anxiety disorders being the most common type of disorder among young females and males,” Ms Fardell said.
The Study also gives insights into the actions people took to manage their mental health.
“Some 17.5 per cent (3.4 million) of Australians had at least one consultation with a health professional for their mental health in 2020-21. General practitioners were the most common type of health professional consulted,” Ms Fardell said.
“Of people with a mental disorder in 2020-21, almost half (47.1 per cent) had at least one consultation with a health professional for their mental health. In addition to these consultations, 4.4 per cent (or 864,100) of Australians accessed at least one digital service for their mental health, such as crisis support or counselling services and online treatment programs or tools.”
The ABS will publish results from the second cohort (2021-22) of the Study in 2023, as well as results from a combined sample. The ABS would like to thank participants for contributing to these important findings. More information is available for free download on the ABS website - https://www.abs.gov.au/.
National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-21 audio grabs
Grab 1
The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing covered a range of mental health and wellbeing issues. So for example, it covered the experiences of mental disorders both over a person's lifetime and in the last 12 months.
We also looked at characteristics of people who experienced mental health disorders. We looked at the levels of psychological distress that people experienced.
And we also looked at consultations with health professionals and the services that people used for their mental health.
And what's really interesting about this survey is that for the first time ever, we collected information about self-harm, binge eating and the lived experience of suicide.
Grab 2
The top three findings from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing were that one in five people who are aged 16 to 85 years old experienced a mental disorder in the period that we covered, which was 2020-21.
Anxiety was the most common group of mental disorders, so nearly 17% of Australians in that age group had an Anxiety disorder such as Social Phobia.
Then we also found that about seven and a half per cent of Australians had an Affective or a Mood disorder like Depression. And then 3.3% of Australians had a Substance Use disorder.
The other key finding from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing was that about 17.5% of people aged 16 to 85 had at least one session with their mental health professional about mental health in 2020-21.
And out of that group, most of them saw their GP's as their mental health professional.
Grab 3
In terms of how we should use this data, out of all the ABS surveys, the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing is the gold standard for information on the prevalence of mental disorders in Australia.
And that's because the study uses a diagnostic instrument to give an accurate picture of the level of mental health in the population.
The ABS does actually publish other useful information about mental health. So for example, we collected that in the Census recently.
We collected it in the National Health Survey as well, and also in the Patient Experience Survey. But these collect self-reported health conditions, so they're not comparable with the Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
I should also say that this is not a COVID-specific study, so we can't attribute any impacts of the pandemic on mental health by this study.
But the study does provide information about levels of psychological distress and also the strategies that people used to manage their mental health in 2020-21.
Grab 4
The ABS is currently surveying more people for a second cycle of the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
So once we get that extra information we'll be able to combine that from the information from the first cycle and we'll be able to provide extra detail such as state and territory breakdowns.
So we'll be publishing that information next year.
And I would also like to say that we'd like to thank participants who contributed to the findings of this study.
Media notes
If you or someone you know requires assistance or support, contact: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
The Study used the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 diagnostic tool (CIDI 3.0 tool) to determine mental disorders. This tool is comparable to other international studies.
Mental disorders in the study are based on definitions and criteria of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Responses from the study participants are assessed to determine whether a person’s symptoms meet diagnostic criteria for having a mental disorder in their lifetime and in the 12 months prior to the study interview.
The CIDI 3.0 tool provides a diagnosis of common mental disorders that does not rely upon whether a person has been seen a health professional or been told they have a particular disorder, or upon self-diagnosis.
Anxiety disorders include Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Affective disorders include Depressive Episode, Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) and Bipolar Affective Disorder.
Substance Use disorders include Alcohol Harmful Use, Alcohol Dependence and Drug Use Disorders.
Care should be taken when reporting on mental ill health and suicide, please refer to the Mindframe website for further guidance.
- Data for Anxiety disorders are not comparable to the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
- This study was funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care as part of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study.
- When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
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