More than two in five (43.7 per cent) Australians aged 16-85 years have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, says the latest findings released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing study used the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 diagnostic tool (CIDI 3.0 tool) to determine mental disorders.
Linda Fardell, head of health and disability statistics at the ABS, said in a statement that the new study paints a comprehensive picture of mental disorders in the community, and gives a snapshot of wellbeing. She said:
“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. 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. Ms Fardell added:
“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 further adds that 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.”
According to the study, 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.
This study was funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care as part of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study.
The ABS will publish results from the second cohort (2021-22) of the study in 2023, as well as results from a combined sample on the ABS website.
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