Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing.

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Title: Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing.
Authors: Teesson, Maree, Whiteford, Harvey, Bower, Marlee, Smout, Scarlett, Burgess, Philip, Harris, Meredith G., Pirkis, Jane, Diminic, Sandra, Baillie, Andrew, Slade, Tim, Chapman, Cath
Source: Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Jun2025, Vol. 59 Issue 6, p485-492. 8p.
Subjects: Psychiatric epidemiology, Policy sciences, Psychiatry, Mental health, Government policy, Health policy, Age distribution, Anxiety, Disease prevalence, Odds ratio, Confidence intervals, Well-being, Comorbidity, Mental depression
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to summarise the policy implications of key findings from the 2020–22 Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHWB). We provide an analysis of policy implications of four papers in this issue of the journal from the 2020–22 NSMHWB (N = 15,893) and the 2007 NSMHWB (N = 8841). The 2020–2022 NSMHWB reported a lifetime prevalence rate of common mental disorders of 40.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 39.2–41.3) and 12-month prevalence rate of 20.2% (95% CI 19.5–21.0). Overall, adult Australians were significantly more likely to experience a 12-month mental disorder in 2020–22 compared with 2007, with the change most striking in among those aged 16–24 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3). Individuals aged 16–24 years in 2020–22 were significantly more likely to experience a 12-month anxiety disorder (OR 2.9, 95% CI = 2.3–3.7, depressive disorder (OR 2.8 95% CI = 2.1–3.9) or comorbidity (relative risk [RR] = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2–1.7) compared with those aged 16–24 years in 2007. In 2020–22, the proportion of Australians who had experienced suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts in the past 12 months was 3.3%, 1.1% and 0.3%. Under half (46.5% 95% CI 44.1–48.8) of adults with a 12-month mental disorder sought treatment. Mental disorders remain an endemic feature of Australia's overall health landscape and appear to be increasing, especially in younger cohorts. While service use rates have improved over time, there is still some way to go. Epidemiological surveys such as the 2020–22 NSMHWB are important for understanding changing prevalence and the population not accessing services. Innovative prevention and treatment strategies will be needed to address the increasing rates of disorders in younger Australian adults. Equally innovative and bold policy responses will be essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Teesson%2C+Maree%22">Teesson, Maree</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Whiteford%2C+Harvey%22">Whiteford, Harvey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bower%2C+Marlee%22">Bower, Marlee</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smout%2C+Scarlett%22">Smout, Scarlett</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burgess%2C+Philip%22">Burgess, Philip</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harris%2C+Meredith+G%2E%22">Harris, Meredith G.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pirkis%2C+Jane%22">Pirkis, Jane</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Diminic%2C+Sandra%22">Diminic, Sandra</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Baillie%2C+Andrew%22">Baillie, Andrew</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Slade%2C+Tim%22">Slade, Tim</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chapman%2C+Cath%22">Chapman, Cath</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Australian+%26+New+Zealand+Journal+of+Psychiatry%22">Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry</searchLink>. Jun2025, Vol. 59 Issue 6, p485-492. 8p.
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  Data: The objective of this paper is to summarise the policy implications of key findings from the 2020–22 Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHWB). We provide an analysis of policy implications of four papers in this issue of the journal from the 2020–22 NSMHWB (N = 15,893) and the 2007 NSMHWB (N = 8841). The 2020–2022 NSMHWB reported a lifetime prevalence rate of common mental disorders of 40.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 39.2–41.3) and 12-month prevalence rate of 20.2% (95% CI 19.5–21.0). Overall, adult Australians were significantly more likely to experience a 12-month mental disorder in 2020–22 compared with 2007, with the change most striking in among those aged 16–24 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3). Individuals aged 16–24 years in 2020–22 were significantly more likely to experience a 12-month anxiety disorder (OR 2.9, 95% CI = 2.3–3.7, depressive disorder (OR 2.8 95% CI = 2.1–3.9) or comorbidity (relative risk [RR] = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.2–1.7) compared with those aged 16–24 years in 2007. In 2020–22, the proportion of Australians who had experienced suicidal ideation, suicide plans and suicide attempts in the past 12 months was 3.3%, 1.1% and 0.3%. Under half (46.5% 95% CI 44.1–48.8) of adults with a 12-month mental disorder sought treatment. Mental disorders remain an endemic feature of Australia's overall health landscape and appear to be increasing, especially in younger cohorts. While service use rates have improved over time, there is still some way to go. Epidemiological surveys such as the 2020–22 NSMHWB are important for understanding changing prevalence and the population not accessing services. Innovative prevention and treatment strategies will be needed to address the increasing rates of disorders in younger Australian adults. Equally innovative and bold policy responses will be essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/00048674241292961
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 8
        StartPage: 485
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Psychiatric epidemiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Policy sciences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychiatry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Government policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disease prevalence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Odds ratio
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Confidence intervals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Well-being
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      – SubjectFull: Comorbidity
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      – SubjectFull: Mental depression
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      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Policy implications of the 2020–22 Australian study of mental health and wellbeing.
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              Text: Jun2025
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