The National Survey of American Life: a study of racial, ethnic and cultural influences on mental disorders and mental health

BackgroundA 1995 Australian national survey of mental health literacy showed poor recognition of disorders and beliefs about treatment that differed from those of health professionals. A similar survey carried out in 2003/4 showed some improvements over 8 years.AimsTo investigate whether recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment have changed over a 16-year period.MethodA national survey of 6019 adults was carried out in 2011 using the same questions as the 1995 and 2003/4 surveys.ResultsResults showed improved recognition of depression and more positive ratings for a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals and antidepressants.ConclusionsAlthough beliefs about effective medications and interventions have moved closer to those of health professionals since the previous surveys, there is still potential for mental health literacy gains in the areas of recognition and treatment beliefs for mental disorders. This is particularly the case for schizophrenia.

Download Full-text

The Public's Ability to Recognize Mental Disorders and their Beliefs about Treatment: Changes in Australia Over 8 Years

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01738.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 36-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 134

Author(s):

Anthony F. Jorm ◽

Helen Christensen ◽

Kathleen M. Griffiths

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

National Survey ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Psychiatric Ward ◽

Treatment Beliefs ◽

The Public ◽

Low Level ◽

Treatment Changes

Objective: A national survey of Australian adults in 1995 showed a low level of recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment that were often discordant with those of professionals. The present study aimed to find out whether recognition and treatment beliefs have changed over 8 years. Method: A national survey of 2001 adults in 2003–2004 included the same questions as the 1995 survey. These interview questions were based on a vignette of a person with either depression or schizophrenia. Results: Over the 8 years, the public showed better recognition of depression and schizophrenia and gave more positive ratings to a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals, medications, psychotherapy and psychiatric ward admission. Conclusions: The Australian public's beliefs have changed over 8 years to be more like those of mental health professionals. This change may have positive implications for helpseeking and treatment concordance.

Download Full-text

Mental Health Service Use Among Older African Americans: The National Survey of American Life

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1097/jgp.0b013e318187ddd3 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 948-956 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Harold W. Neighbors ◽

Amanda Toler Woodward ◽

Kai McKeever Bullard ◽

Briggett C. Ford ◽

Robert Joseph Taylor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Service ◽

African Americans ◽

Health Service ◽

National Survey ◽

Service Use ◽

Mental Health Service Use ◽

Health Service Use ◽

American Life ◽

Older African Americans

Download Full-text

The population impact of improvements in mental health services: the case of Australia

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.111.097956 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 199 (6) ◽

pp. 443-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Anthony F. Jorm

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Health Services ◽

National Survey ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Population Impact ◽

High Prevalence

SummaryA national survey in 1997 found that Australia had a high prevalence of mental disorders with low rates of treatment. Since then, treatment availability has increased greatly and unmet need has reduced. However, there is little evidence that the nation's mental health has improved.

Download Full-text

Deconstructing current comorbidity: data from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.181.4.306 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 181 (4) ◽

pp. 306-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

Gavin Andrews ◽

Tim Slade ◽

Cathy Issakidis

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

National Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Epidemiological Surveys ◽

Common Causes ◽

Symptom Level ◽

Health And Well Being

BackgroundComorbidity in epidemiological surveys of mental disorders is common and of uncertain importance.AimsTo explore the correlates of current comorbidity.MethodData from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being were used to evaluate the relationships between comorbidity, disability and service utilisation associated with particular mental disorders.ResultsThe number of current comorbid disorders predicted disability, distress, neuroticism score and service utilisation. Comorbidity is more frequent than expected, which might be due to the effect of one disorder on the symptom level of another, or to the action of common causes on both. The combination of affective and anxiety disorders was more predictive of disability and service utilisation than any other two or three group combinations. When people nominated their principal disorder as the set of symptoms that troubled them the most, the affective and anxiety disorders together were associated with four-fifths of the disability and service utilisation.ConclusionsTo make clinical interventions more practical, current comorbidity is best reduced to a principal disorder and subsidiary disorders.

Download Full-text

The National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being in Australia: Impact on Policy

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674370204700902 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 47 (9) ◽

pp. 819-824 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Scott Henderson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

National Survey ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Well Being ◽

Point Prevalence ◽

Published Data ◽

Years Of Life Lost ◽

The Common ◽

Health And Well Being

Objective: To provide a synopsis of the 3-part National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being in Australia and to examine the yield in terms of policy and other changes in mental and general health services. Method: Published data are examined, and a commentary is provided on service-delivery issues that the data have revealed. Results: One-year prevalence estimates for the common mental disorders, defined according to ICD-10 criteria and assessed using the automated version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-A), have indicated rates similar to those of other countries (17.7%). Alarmingly high rates were found for alcohol and substance abuse in young persons, especially among young men. The number of years of life lost owing to disability attributable to mental disorders exceeds the number lost owing to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Only 35% of persons with 1 or more of the common mental disorders had sought help in the 12 months prior to interview. The point prevalence for mental health problems was 14% for persons aged 4 to 17 years. The point prevalence for psychotic disorders was 4.7 per 1000. An encouraging finding is that 81% of affected individuals had been to their general practitioner (GP) in the last year. However, only 20% had participated in any rehabilitation program in the past year. Conclusions: The Survey results are based on a national population sample, not on individuals reaching services. They have therefore proved to be of great value in influencing policy at federal and state levels and may have contributed to increased funding for both services and research.

Download Full-text