Mental health disorders have surged among Australia's youth, with young women experiencing the highest rates, according to the nation's first comprehensive mental health survey in 15 years.
Just under 9 per cent of Australians reported having self-harmed at some point in their lives, while young women were found to be most at risk.
The survey also showed the devastating impact of suicide, with two in five Australians having had someone close to them die by suicide or attempt suicide during their lifetime. About one in six Australians experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviours during their lives, while just under one in 20 had made a suicide attempt.While mental health conditions spiked among some groups, overall lifetime rates of mental health appeared relatively stable.
This is relatively similar to the findings of the 2007 study, which in large parts is not directly comparable, due to changes in diagnoses for some mental health conditions.WatchAnxiety disorders were the most common conditions, affecting almost 17 per cent of Australians; followed by affective disorders , including depression and bipolar; and substance use disorders, which affected around 3 per cent.
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