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The prevalance of mental disorders among income support recipients: An important issue for welfare reform

Butterworth, Peter

Description

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and psychological distress among Australian income support recipients. Methods: Data from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing were used to examine measures of mental health, disability and use of mental health services, comparing working-age people in receipt of government payments to those with other main sources of income. Results: One-quarter of all income support recipients had experienced substantial levels of...[Show more]

dc.contributor.authorButterworth, Peter
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-13T22:36:24Z
dc.date.available2015-12-13T22:36:24Z
dc.identifier.issn1326-0200
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/76740
dc.description.abstractObjective: To estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and psychological distress among Australian income support recipients. Methods: Data from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing were used to examine measures of mental health, disability and use of mental health services, comparing working-age people in receipt of government payments to those with other main sources of income. Results: One-quarter of all income support recipients had experienced substantial levels of psychological distress during the previous four weeks and almost one in three had experienced a diagnosable mental disorder during the previous 12 months. Around 45% of unpartnered women with children in receipt of income support payments were identified with a mental disorder. In contrast, around 10% of people not receiving welfare reported substantial psychological distress and 19% had a diagnosable mental disorder. The prevalence of physical and mental disability was also greater among income support recipients. There was no difference in service use between recipients and non-recipients. Conclusions: Mental illness is a significant issue among income support recipients. The presence of a mental disorder is a substantial barrier to work and other forms of social participation. Mental health is an issue with relevance beyond the health portfolio, with implications for many domains of social policy and service delivery. Understanding and better assisting income support recipients with mental health problems will be important in welfare reform and in the introduction of a more active welfare system.
dc.publisherPublic Health Association of Australia
dc.sourceAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
dc.subjectKeywords: adult; aged; article; Australia; data analysis; distress syndrome; female; health care delivery; health care policy; health survey; human; income; major clinical study; male; mental disease; mental health service; prevalence; social interaction; welfare;
dc.titleThe prevalance of mental disorders among income support recipients: An important issue for welfare reform
dc.typeJournal article
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.description.refereedYes
local.identifier.citationvolume27
dc.date.issued2003
local.identifier.absfor111714 - Mental Health
local.identifier.ariespublicationMigratedxPub5548
local.type.statusPublished Version
local.contributor.affiliationButterworth, Peter, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.bibliographicCitation.issue4
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage441
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage448
dc.date.updated2015-12-11T09:31:37Z
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-0041424881
CollectionsANU Research Publications

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