MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS (F00-F99)
Deaths due to Mental health disorders relate to behaviours and conditions which interfere with social functioning and capacity to negotiate daily life. Deaths due to Mental health disorders (F00-F99) were identified as the underlying cause of 6,406 registered deaths, representing 4.5% of all registered deaths in Australia during 2008. In total, 22,158 deaths were due to, or associated with, Mental health disorders.
The prevalence of Mental health disorders as an underlying cause has increased significantly over the last ten years. In 2008, the standardised death rate for Mental health disorders was 25.5 per 100,000 of population, an increase from 15.7 per 100,000 population in 1999. The standardised death rates for males in 2008 was 25.3 per 100,000, and 24.8 per 100,000 for females.
In 2008, more than half the deaths due to Mental health disorders were females (4,035 or 63%). The median age at death was higher for females at 88.6 years, compared with 84.2 years for males. Consistent with this difference, the potential life lost as a result of deaths due to Mental health disorders was 8,209 years for males and 4,250 years for females.
Dementia (F01-F03) accounted for 89% of deaths due to Mental health disorders in 2008. There were 5,688 deaths registered in 2008 for which Dementia was the underlying cause. Of these, 1,916 were males, and 3,772 females, giving a sex ratio of 50.8 males per 100 female deaths. The median age at death due to Dementia was 85.5 years for males, 89.0 years for females, and 87.8 years overall. For further information regarding Dementia, see Explanatory Note 65.
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