More than a quarter of Aussies are living day to day with mental health conditions, with one in every 14 people reporting they feel depressed, according to the latest outlook on the nation’s health. The latest national health survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found 26.1 per cent of Australians have mental and behavioural conditions.
The ABS classifies mental and behavioural conditions as a chronic condition in the 2022 findings. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. It was the most common chronic health issue ahead of back problems (15.
7 per cent) and arthritis (14.5 per cent). The latest data revealed one in two people had at least one chronic condition.
The most prevalent chronic conditions experienced in Australia in 2022 were: Women (52.3 per cent) were more likely than men (47.4 per cent) to have at least one chronic condition, according to the report.
The study also found there is a high chance of Aussies living with more than one chronic condition at the same time – known as multi-morbidity. The ABS stated that 51.7 per of those people with a mental and behavioural condition also had some form of multi-morbidity.
More than one in 10, or 11.5 per cent, also reported feeling anxious, nervous or tense. The latest data reflects a push to ensure support for mental health and wellbeing in early childhood is included in health checks.
The Royal Australian College of GPs president Nicole Higgins said its o.