4329.0 - Characteristics of people using mental health services and prescription medication, 2011

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/10/2014 First Issue

Page tools: Print Page Print All
Introduction + People accessing MBS subsidised mental health-related services in 2011 MBS Demographics MBS Work and Education + People accessing PBS subsidised mental health-related prescription medication in 2011 Primary Health Networks Endnotes About this Release History of Changes	MBS WORK AND EDUCATION EDUCATION Education and training are important means by which individuals can realise their full potential and make positive choices about their wellbeing. Education and training are often essential to gaining paid employment, and can provide the pathway to a rewarding career (Endnote 3). Overall, there was little difference in the proportion of the population accessing a subsidised mental health-related service in 2011 by highest level of educational attainment. Of the 3 million Australians aged 15-64 years whose highest level of education was a Bachelor degree or higher, 9.5% accessed a subsidised mental health-related service in 2011, with a similar rate (9.8%) for those with Year 11 or below. However, people with a Bachelor degree or higher were more likely to see a clinical psychologist (2.1%) and psychiatrist (2.2%) than people with Year 11 or below (1.3% and 1.7% respectively). Graph 4: Proportion of Australian population aged 15-64 years accessing MBS subsidised mental health-related services -- 2011, by Level of Highest Educational Attainment and Provider Type EMPLOYMENT Paid employment is a major source of economic resources and security for most individuals. It allows people to contribute to their community and it can enhance their skills, social networks and identity (Endnote 3). Generally, participation in the labour force tends to be lower in the teenage years, before rising in the twenties as people complete their educational qualifications and begin a career. The rate for men tends to stay quite high until they reach their late fifties and into their sixties, when many men retire. For women, the labour force participation rate tends to dip during the peak child-bearing years (between 25 and 44 years) (Endnote 4). In 2011, of all employed Australians aged 15-64 years, 8.2% accessed subsidised mental health-related services, compared with 12.6% of all people who were unemployed and 12.4% of all people who were not in the labour force. Unemployed people aged 15-64 years were more likely to see a psychiatrist (2.3%) than were employed people (1.4%) within this age group. Graph 5: Proportion of Australian population aged 15-64 years accessing MBS subsidised mental health-related services -- 2011, by Labour Force Status and Provider Type Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.