The Burden and Impact of the Great Depression in Australia

Prevalence and Burden of Depression in Australia

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the burden and impact of public health problems, including the impact of social determinants (SDOH) on health problems and health promotion and prevention strategies. This article will therefore focus on the prevalence, burden and impact of depression in Australia.

Mental health problems are the biggest problem in Australia, with 20% or 4.8 million people suffering from mental and behavioral disorders (ABS, 2018). According to one report, the prevalence of mental health problems is higher in women (30%) than in men (21%) (AIHW, 2021). Depression is the most common mental health problem and among all illnesses he is the third most burdensome. Her 13% of depressed patients have an increased risk of depression. The prevalence of depression was 11.6% higher in women than 9.1% in men in 2018 (ABS, 2018). Biological and socioeconomic factors (SDOH) are associated with higher prevalence of depression in women. For example, severe hormonal changes, economic conditions and gender bias that lead to discrimination and violence.

Therefore, it is women, mainly the elderly, who are targeted for mental health promotion and prevention. Anxiety is the leading cause of disability in Australia, with 3.2 million people suffering from an anxiety disorder (ABS, 2018). Studies have shown that most suicide deaths in Australia are linked to mental illness or depression. For example, in 2018 there were a total of 3,046 deaths, with an average of 8 deaths per day (AIHW). This is not only a health burden. However, as the financial burden increases, people with depression are at increased risk of other illnesses due to lifestyle choices, nutritional deficiencies, and poor diet. They are also at increased risk of hospitalization for physical and mental health problems (Scofield et al., 2019). SDOH is a factor that affects the health and well-being of individuals or communities and influences health problems and their spread in society. These factors include living conditions, environment, socioeconomic status such as class, education, income and cultural factors. A person’s mental health has a significant impact on networks including education, income and social support (Pearson et al., 2020).

Cultural background also affects an individual’s metal health. This is because people from different backgrounds are at higher risk of experiencing stress, isolation and discrimination that lead to substance use and mental illness (Ziersch et al., 2020). Depression affects the living environment and environment. For example, Australian communities living in remote areas are more likely to be depressed than other populations. Similarly, Ziersch et al. (2020) argue that the prevalence of depression is also influenced by racial and cultural factors. Indigenous peoples in Australia, for example, had a long history of exacerbating their trauma even before colonization. Loss of land and cultural identity is associated with intergenerational trauma. This is why the prevalence of depression among indigenous peoples is high. Another cause of depression in Australian communities is education. Immigrants and other remote, low-educated communities are more vulnerable to mental health problems, including depression (Shen et al., 2018).

Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Depression

In Australia, income has a strong link with mental health problems. For example, low-income communities such as farmers and workers with low income and high stress develop depression and suicide (Isaacs et al., 2018). Lifestyle factors such as sleep, eating habits, smoking and drinking also influence the development of depression. People who consume alcohol are more susceptible. For example, alcohol has been found to lower levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are involved in regulating an individual’s mood. Drinking alcohol may make you feel better.

However, alcohol lowers the levels of both of these substances, which may have more depressive effects in people with depression. Australia also has a high prevalence of alcohol-related depression (Handley et al., 2019). In addition, social factors also play a role in increasing the burden of depression in Australia. For example, social problems such as the death of a close friend or loved one, relative, or traumatic event increase adolescent stress and anxiety, leading to further depression (Ogbo et al., 2018). Given that socio-economic factors influence depression and risk for all people, it is important to implement lifelong education and prevention strategies that focus on health promotion and prevention at different levels to reduce the risk of depression in Australia. It can reduce the burden on the human community. Lifelong prevention also includes health promotion to raise public awareness, disease prevention through planning, and early intervention to control risk.

People of all ages are at risk of developing depression for a variety of reasons. Therefore, strategies should be implemented at all levels. Therefore, there is a need for awareness-raising and enlightenment at various levels, such as school education, workplaces and communities. Children also develop depression in traumatic situations and in certain environments. However, schooling about depression may increase their awareness and find ways to move away from the problem (Herrman et al., 2022). Complex situations and stressful environments make the workplace a source of depression. However, when education and strategy are implemented at the organizational level, they can create a better working environment for employees. Employers can provide employees with ways to reduce workplace stress through a variety of activities, games, and exercises. Similarly, community-level education can help raise public awareness of depression and provide information to help manage the problem on an individual level (Davey & McGorry, 2019).

Another strategy that can be implemented in parallel with education is lifestyle change. One of the main factors causing this problem in Australia is the lifestyle and living environment. An individual’s lifestyle includes a range of activities that are more relevant to depression. For example, alcohol and drug use increase the risk of depression. Governments should implement strategies to reduce alcohol and drug use by enacting policies that may restrict sales and consumption (Kim et al., 2018). Similarly, exercise and diet are other lifestyle factors that can affect a person’s mental health.

Therefore, to reduce the burden of depression, dietary changes, such as focusing on nutrition and fluid intake, and engaging in physical activity, are recommended. Physical activity improves mobility as well as a person’s mental health. Improving lifestyle has been shown to improve depression. The Australian government has therefore funded a range of measures to reduce the burden of depression by improving people’s lifestyles (Kim et al., 2018). The 5th National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan aims to prevent suicide and improve people’s lifestyles. Similarly, ‘Vision 2030’ is another government-supported program to reduce the burden of depression (Ministry of Health, 2022).

References

ABS. (2018). Mental Health. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/mental-health/latest-release 

AIHW. (2022). Suicide & self-harm monitoring data. https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/suicide-self-harm-monitoring-data 

AIHW. (2021). Mental Illness. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/mental-illness 

Department of Health. (2022). What we’re doing about mental health. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/mental-health-and-suicide-prevention/what-were-doing-about-mental-health 

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