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MENTAL HEALTH STATISTICS

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Psychological disability (cat. no. 4433.0.55.004)

This release focuses on psychological disability data collected in the 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC). It presents an overview of psychological disability in Australia, including information on prevalence, coexisting conditions and impairments, assistance needed and received, and participation in education and employment.

Psychological disability refers to people who reported:

• A nervous or emotional condition which causes restrictions in everyday activities that has lasted, or is expected to last for six months or more; or
• A mental illness for which help or supervision is required that has lasted, or is expected to last for six months or more; or
• A brain injury, including stroke, which results in a mental illness or nervous and emotional condition which causes restrictions in everyday activities.

Key Collections		Description
National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (SMHWB) Catalogue number 4326.0		The SMHWB collected information about the prevalence of mental disorders using the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The survey uses diagnostic criteria to establish the prevalence of selected lifetime and 12-month mental disorders, by the major disorder groups: Anxiety disorders (e.g. Social Phobia); Affective disorders (e.g. Depression); and Substance Use disorders (e.g. Alcohol Harmful Use). The survey also provides detailed information on level of impairment; the impact on people with a mental health disorder and their families; use of mental health services and unmet need; physical conditions; social networks and caregiving; suicide ideation; and homelessness, as well as demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Includes the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress scale (K10) which was developed to yield a global measure of psychosocial distress, based on questions about people’s level of nervousness, agitation, psychological fatigue and depression in the past four weeks. If you are interested in more information around K10, please see Information Paper: Use of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in ABS Health Surveys, 2007-08. The SMHWB provides the most accurate measure of mental health disorder prevalence collected by the ABS.
National Health Survey (NHS) Catalogue number 4364.0.55.001		As a component of the Australian Health Survey (AHS), the 2011-12 NHS collected information about long-term health conditions (that is, lasting or expected to last for 6 months or more), including mental and behavioural conditions. These conditions were self-reported by respondents. Includes the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress scale (K10) which was developed to yield a global measure of psychosocial distress. This survey also provides information about self-assessed health, selected health risk factors, such as smoking, Body Mass Index (BMI) and alcohol consumption, and information on whether respondents, including those with a mental health condition, saw various health professionals in the last 12 months, including psychologists.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) Catalogue number 4727.0.55.001		As a component of the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (AATSIHS), the 2012-13 NATSIHS collected largely the same information as the NHS (see above), but for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Mental and behavioural conditions were self-reported by respondents and the survey also included the Kessler 5 Psychological Distress scale (K5), which consists of a subset of five questions from the Kessler 10. Use this collection for information about the mental health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.
Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) Catalogue number 4430.0		The SDAC is designed to measure the prevalence of disability in Australia, as well as inform around the socio-economic characteristics and the need for support by people with disability. It also collects detailed information on older people and those who provided care for older people or those with disability. Use this survey for information on psychological disability. Psychological disability refers to: A nervous or emotional condition which causes restrictions in everyday activities that has lasted, or is expected to last for six months or more; or A mental illness for which help or supervision is required that has lasted, or is expected to last for six months or more; or A brain injury, including stroke, which results in a mental illness or nervous and emotional condition which causes restrictions in everyday activities.
General Social Survey (GSS) Catalogue number 4159.0		The GSS is a special social survey designed to support the exploration of the links between different social and economic topics. The survey provides information on people's health, family relationships, social and community involvement, education, employment, income and financial stress, assets and liabilities, housing and mobility, crime and safety, transport, attendance at culture and leisure venues, and sports attendance and participation. Use this survey for information on personal stressors experienced in the last 12 months and disability type, including psychological disability.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) Catalogue number 4714.0		The NATSISS provides similar information to the GSS (see above) but for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Use this survey for information about the mental health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, including psychological distress (using K5 data), selected stressors experienced in the last 12 months, and disability type, including psychological disability.
Patient Experiences in Australia (PEx) Catalogue number 4839.0		PEx provides information on access to health care services and collects information on long-term health conditions including mental health conditions. Use this survey for information on patients’ experiences with general practitioners, dentists, medical specialists and hospitals, as well as their use of pathology and imaging tests.
Causes of Death, Australia Catalogue number 3303.0		Causes of death are presented in a number of different ways including by underlying cause, leading cause and multiple causes. Use this collection for information on suicides as well as mental and behavioural disorders as an underlying cause of death.
Suicides, Australia Catalogue number 3309.0		This publication examines data from Causes of Death, Australia 2012 where the underlying cause of death was determined as intentional self-harm, as per the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).