Substance use disorders
Substance use disorders include alcohol and drug harmful use or abuse and alcohol or drug dependence.
- The main contributors to mental health related deaths were alcohol dependence (44% and) and drug use disorder (20%)
- Nearly 5% of all deaths are attributed to alcohol and illicit drug use.
Substance use disorders affect more people who are widowed, separated, or divorced (7.5%) unemployed ( 8.5%) - The occurrence of substance use disorders is higher in men above 16 years of age. for women, it affects those aged between 16 and 24 years the most.
- Substance abuse is 3 times greater in men than in women
Anxiety disorders
Quick Facts
Anxiety disorders include panic, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalised anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and post-traumatic stress disorders.
- Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia affecting one in four people (one in three women in 5 men).
- Anxiety Disorders affect more people who are widowed, separated, or divorced (19%) unemployed (20.9%), and who did not complete school (18.9% )
- The occurrence of anxiety disorders is higher in women between the ages of 16 and 54 years. For men, it affects those aged between 35 and 44 years the most.
Source: ABS 2008.
Affective & mood disorders
Quick Facts
Affective disorders, such as depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia affect more people who are widowed, separated or divorced (11.2%) unemployed (14.9%) and who did not complete school (8.1% )
- The occurrence of affective disorders is highest among women between the ages of 25 and 34 years by men between the ages of 35 and 44 years.
- Most effective disorders tend to be recurrent and the onset of individual episodes can often be related to stressful events or situations.
Vision disorders & blindness
Common causes of vision impairment and blindness are degenerative diseases such as:
- Age-related macular degeneration: (AMD) a disease that affects the retina and a person's Central vision
- Glaucoma: group of diseases in the optic nerve
- Diabetic retinopathy: complications of diabetes that affect the blood vessels of the retina
- Cataract: clouding of the lens resulting in a blurred image
Degenerative eye diseases are the leading cause of blindness among Australians 55+.
The risk of an individual experiencing vision impairment during their lifetime, as a result of a degenerative eye disease, is 36.3%. The chance that an individual will have permanent site loss or blindness during their lifetime is 18.2%
- Trauma to the eye is the leading cause of blindness in one eye
- Many eye injuries are sustained as a result of Sport or work, particularly among men of working age
- The risk of depression in people with vision impairment is 3 times higher than in those without impairment
