4-3

4-3. Mental health conditions

In 2016, around one in five (17.8%) South Australians aged 18 years or more reported living with a doctor-diagnosed mental health condition¹.
The rate varies between the three metropolitan Adelaide Local Health Networks (LHNs), from 15.5% in the Central Adelaide LHN up to 20.0% in the Northern Adelaide LHN¹.
The overall metropolitan Adelaide rate (18.0%) is not statistically significantly higher than the Country SA rate of 17.5%¹.
A statistically significant increasing trend over the last decade in the proportion of people reporting living with a mental health condition was identified in both the metropolitan Adelaide and Country SA series¹.

4-3-1

Data source: SA Health 2017

In 2016, the proportion of the population aged 18 years and over that reported living with a doctor-diagnosed mental health condition was around twice as high for females (23.4%) than males (11.7%)¹.

4-3-2

Data source: SA Health 2017

In 2016, there was no statistically significant correlation between the proportion of people aged 18 years reporting living with a doctor-diagnosed mental health condition and the socio-economic status of the geographic area in which they live¹.

4-3-3

Data source: SA Health 2017

Data presented here is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2014-15 National Health Survey for people of all ages and is not directly comparable with data presented from the state-wide survey for ages 18 years and over in 4-3-1 to 4-3-3 above.
The national survey reports figures that broadly corroborate the statewide figures, showing that an estimated 18.1% of the age-standardised population in South Australia are living with a mental or behavioural problem that has lasted or which the survey respondent expects to last for six months or more².
The South Australian rate is similar to the Australia-wide rate of 17.4%. There is also not a great deal of variation in rates between the states and territories².

**Living with a mental or behavioural problem (all ages), 2014–15 (age-standardised)**
State/Territory	%
Western Australia	14.5%
Northern Territory	15.3%
Victoria	17.3%
New South Wales	17.7%
Queensland	18.0%
South Australia	18.1%
Australian Capital Territory	18.2%
Tasmania	21.0%
Australia	17.4%

4-3-4

Data source: ABS 2015

In 2012, around one in ten (10.3%) Aboriginal people in South Australia reported living with a doctor-diagnosed mental health problem³.
The rate was statistically significantly higher in metropolitan Adelaide (15.5%) than in Country SA (4.5%)³.
The prevalence of mental health conditions in South Australia's Aboriginal population (10.3%) is around a third lower than the state all-person rate (see 4-3-4 above)³.

4-3-5

* Survey did not include APY Lands

Data source: University of Adelaide 2012

Based on South Australian Monitoring and Surveillance System customised extract 2017, Population Health Surveys, SA Health, Adelaide.
Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2015), ‘Table 2.3 Summary health characteristics — States and territories, Proportion of persons’, National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15, cat. no. 4364.0.55.001, viewed 6 June 2016.
Based on Taylor, A, Marin, T, Avery, J & Dal Grande, E 2012, 'Appendix A: Table A5.4 Mental Health', South Australian Aboriginal health survey, Population research and outcome studies, University of Adelaide, Adelaide.