As Australians struggle to afford basic goods and keep up with their bills, new data from Suicide Prevention Australia has found the state of the economy is currently the number one driver of mental health distress throughout the country.
Suicide Prevention Australia’s annual State of the Nation report shows cost of living and personal debt are causing elevated distress beyond normal levels for 40 per cent of Australians when compared with this time last year.
The combined jurisdictions of Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory (51 per cent) had the highest levels of distress. South Australia (49 per cent) had the most for a single state.
Women (44 per cent) also felt more distressed over cost of living and personal debt when compared with men (36 per cent).
Over two in five Australians aged 16-85 years (43.7% or 8.6 million people) had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life, with anxiety being the most common group of 12-month mental disorders (16.8% or 3.3 million people).
In 2020-21, 3.4 million Australians aged 16-85 years (17%) saw a health professional for their mental health.
In addition to mental health-related consultations with health professionals, around 612,000 Australians accessed other services for their mental health via phone or online telehealth services, including crisis support or counselling services, online treatment programs and tools to improve mental health, and mental health support groups and forums.
Private Medical offers specific Mental Health consultations with our experienced GPs. These consultations will be via video conferencing, 30 minutes in length, with Medicare rebates available.
We are also able to offer these consultations after hours, 7 days a week between 8am and 8pm AEST. These consultations are available to be booked online, from the comfort of your home, on the day that you need them.
Our GP’s can offer support, advice, prescriptions, certificates, mental health care plans and referrals as necessary.
If you would like to learn more about Private Medical, or book an appointment with one of our doctors, head to our website at www.privatemedical.net, or phone our friendly team on our national phone line between 8am – 8pm AEST, 7 days per week, on 135 001.
