Mental Health and Well-being (Survey of)

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NAME OF ORGANISATION Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) OVERVIEW The economic and personal costs of mental illness are major social and public health issues. In December 1994, a workshop commissioned by the then Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) recommended the conduct of a national survey of mental health and wellbeing. The survey was to comprise three components: an adult study, a child and adolescent study; and a study of low prevalence (psychotic) disorders. Subsequently, as part of the National Mental Health Strategy, HFS commissioned the ABS to conduct the adult component of the survey. The workshop determined the broad content and the use of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for collection of disorders. PURPOSE The objectives of the survey were to provide information on the prevalence of selected major mental disorders, the level of disability associated with these disorders, and the health services used and help needed as a consequence of mental health problems for Australians aged 18 years or more. SCOPE The scope of the survey was restricted to persons 18 years of age or over who were usual residents in private dwellings but not living in sparsely-settled strata. DATA DETAIL Conceptual framework The objectives of the survey were to provide information on the prevalence of selected major mental disorders, the level of disability associated with these disorders, and the health services used and help needed as a consequence of a mental health problem for Australians aged 18 years or more. The range of major mental disorders included in the survey are those which were considered to have the highest rates of prevalence in the population and which were also able to be identified in an interviewer-based household survey. The diagnostic component of the interview was administered through a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the coding of mental disorders was based on the International Classification of Diseases Version 10 (ICD-10) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). The mental disorders included in the survey were: Anxiety disorders Panic disorder Agoraphobia Social phobia Generalised anxiety disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder Affective disorders Depression Dysthymia Mania Hypomania Bipolar disorder Substance use disorders (alcohol and drugs) Harmful use/abuse Dependence. To assess the association between physical and mental health, some information was collected on chronic physical conditions and disability. Data was gathered on health service use as a consequence of a mental health problem and on respondents' perceived need for health services. Other scales and measures (such as the Kessler 10, General Health Questionnaire 12 and SF-12) which looked at the respondents' general health and wellbeing were also included. Data can be cross-classified by a range of socio-demographic characteristics (such as labour force status, marital status and highest educational qualification). Main outputs Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Australia, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.0) Summary information is included on the prevalence of selected mental disorders, the level of disability associated with these disorders, and health services used and help needed as a consequence of a mental health problem for Australians aged 18 years or more. Released 12 March 1998 Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, New South Wales, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.1.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Victoria, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.2.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Queensland, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.3.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, South Australia, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat No 4326.4.40.001) These data reports for the larger states each contain 17 tables on prevalence, disability and health service use. These tables are based on those in the national publication. Released 30 September 1998 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults Users' Guide, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4327.0) This publication presents detailed information on survey objectives, the development process, content of the survey, methods and procedures used in the collection of data, and available survey outputs Mental disorder diagnostic criteria, a data item list and other relevant information are included as Appendixes. Released 27 January 1999 Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Western Australia, 1997-98 (ABS Cat No. 4326.5) Summary information is included on the prevalence of selected mental disorders, the level of disability associated with these disorders, and health services used and help needed as a consequence of a mental health problem for Australians aged 18 years or more. Released 9 March 1999 Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File on CD-ROM, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.0.30.001) Released September 1998 Information paper: Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4329.0) Released September 1998 Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Western Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File on CD-ROM, 1997-98 (ABS Cat No. 4326.5.30.001) Released March 2001 These files will enable users to undertake analyses and manipulations of the data. Both files will contain an extensive range of data but some items have been removed or the level of detail reduced to ensure that the confidentiality of respondents is maintained. Classifications It is important to note that some items on income, employment and income were based on, but do not precisely match, ABS standards. The classification for household type also differs from the ABS standard and are intended as cross-classification data items only. The survey provided diagnoses for selected major mental disorders according to the ICD-10 and DSM-IV classifications. The World Health Organisation Training 2 Reference Centre for CIDI in Australia (The WHO Centre) provided a program which scored the data collected in the CIDI against criteria for mental disorders, according to both ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Information about classifications used in the survey is contained in National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults Users' Guide, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4327.0) Other concepts (summary) GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL Australia New South Wales Victoria Queensland South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Northern Territory ACT Part of State Metropolitan Part of State Extra-Metropolitan Comments and/or Other Regions Also includes the Department of Primary Industries and Energy Remote, Rural and Metropolitan Areas classification. COLLECTION FREQUENCY Once Only Frequency comments COLLECTION HISTORY Initial field testing on selected topics - late 1995 Dress rehearsal - December 1996 Workshop designated Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) as main diagnostic instrument December 1994 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by HSF and ABS April 1997 Enumeration started May 1997 Enumeration completed August 1997 Clean file October 1997 Release of national publication March 1998 Initial release of Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) July 1999 Final release of CURF November 2000 DATA AVAILABILITY Yes Data availability comments National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Profile of Adults Australia, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.0) National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults Users' Guide, 1997 (ABS Cat. No 4327.0) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, New South Wales, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat. No 4326.1.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Victoria, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat. No 4326.2.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Queensland, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat. No 4326.3.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, South Australia, Data Report, 1997 (ABS Cat No 4326.4.40.001) Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Western Australia, 1997-98 (ABS Cat No. 4326.5) Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File on CD-ROM, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4326.0.30.001) Information paper: Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File, 1997 (ABS Cat No. 4329.0) Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Western Australia, Confidentialised Unit Record File on CD-ROM, 1997-98 (ABS Cat No. 4326.5.30.001) DATE OF LAST UPDATE FOR THIS DOCUMENT 14/09/2004 09:45 AM Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.