Indicator description

Why is it indicative

What does the data show

Data

Acknowledgment

Indicator description

Prevalence of depression and related disorders (1 year prevalence) per 1,000 population.

Why is it indicative

Depression has emerged as one of the major health problems in Australia, a source of much personal distress, chronic morbidity and economic cost. In addition to biological determinants, the quality of familial and marital relationships and other social support networks also play important roles in the occurrence and outcome of depression-related illness. It is accepted that depression and related disorders (post-partum depression, bipolar disorders, etc.) have a life-time prevalence of 6.3% and a one year prevalence of 3.7% in Australia, but no reliable source of information is currently available for generating national estimates. Variations in mental health have been documented between urban and remote settlements in Australia (Brealey et. al. 1988).

What does the data show

There is little Statewide information available on the prevalence of depression in Tasmania and any trends or changes in its prevalence. Data from the Healthy communities survey found that 167.2 people per 1,000 population in Tasmania aged 18 years and over were suffering some form of depression (Department of Health and Human Services 1999).

Data

A national survey on mental health and well-being published in 1998 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that approximately 5.1% (692,900) of the country's adult population reported suffering from depression in 1997 (ABS 1998b). There is little Statewide information available on the prevalence of depression in Tasmania. Data from the Healthy communities survey found that 167.2 people per 1,000 population in Tasmania aged 18 years and over were suffering some form of depression (Department of Health and Human Services 1999). There are significant gender differentials in these findings, with 193.3 females and 136.4 males per 1,000 population reporting depression (Department of Health and Human Services 1999), although males may be under reporting their depression.

Acknowledgment

Environment Australia (HS 8.6)