Abstract

Author(s):

Harris, B, Duggan, M, Batterham, P, Bartlem, K, Clinton-McHarg, T,
Dunbar, J, Fehily, C, Lawrence, D, Morgan, M & Rosenbaum, S

The relationship between mental health and physical health is well known yet there is a persistent gap in morbidity and mortality.

Australia’s Mental and Physical Health Tracker is a national report card on chronic disease and their risk factors for people with mental and behavioural issues compared to the Australian population as a whole, and differentiated by gender. It examines issues such as smoking, risking drinking, obesity and overweight, physical activity, blood pressure and cholesterol levels which are the major risk factors for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.

For the first time, data from the National Health Survey are used to quantify the differences in chronic disease risk factors for people with mental and behavioural issues, and to highlight the gender differences.

Australia’s Mental and Physical Health Tracker also quantifies, for the first time in Australia, the comorbidities associated with mental health conditions. Living with a mental health condition – including common conditions anxiety and depression – dramatically increases the chances of living with another chronic disease. Approximately 2.5 million Australians have both a mental and physical health condition.

We have known for a long time that people with mental health conditions are more likely to have physical health issues, and less likely to have those issues addressed. The Tracker demonstrates that this holds true for all mental health conditions, including those affecting millions of Australians.

Poor physical health experienced by people with mental health issues will continue to affect welfare and education, health systems and costs, productivity and employment, and social participation.

Improving the physical health of people living with mental health conditions must become a priority to improve the health of all Australians. Australia’s Mental and Physical Health Tracker provides data to help focus our efforts and a tool to track our progress