Distribution of Depression Amongst Young Australians

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Introduction Depression is a mental disorder in which a patient might feel intense, prolonged, negative emotions (Beyond Blue, 2014). This can have severe impact on a person's mental and physical health, thus affecting a person's quality of life. Severe cases can even lead to suicide. It is estimated that one in six Australians will experience depression in their lifetime (Beyond Blue, 2014). The burden of disease gives an indication of of the loss of health and well being of Australians due to each disease (ABS, 2010). Depression and anxiety is the leading cause of burden among females, accounting for 10% of burden while it is the third leading cause for men, accounting for 4.8% (AIHW, 2003) (This was the most recent information found). Depression can affect all age groups but generally first starts to appear in adolescence and early adulthood (National Youth Mental Health Foundation, 2013). Is depression an issue for young Australians? Approximately 550,000 Australians aged 16 to 24 live with depression or anxiety (Beyond Blue, 2014). Depression has a prevalence of 2.8% in young Australians aged 16 to 24 years old. Depression was the most common health problem for young people aged 16 to 24 (13.5 encounters per 100) (AIHW, 2011). It is difficult to calculate mortality for depression as suicide can be attributed to factors other than depression, such as drug use or abuse. Depression, along with other mental health disorders, is the leading cause of disability in Australians aged 15 to 24 (AIHW, 2008). Depression and anxiety account for 17% of male disease burden and 32% of female burden in this age group (AIHW, 2008) and 24% of the burden for all Australians aged 16 to 24 (AIHW, 2011). Depression greatly affects quality of ... ... middle of paper ... ...a, 2008, Mental Health in Rural and Remote Communities, Response Ability, viewed 12 May 2014, Najman, Hayatbakhsh, Clavarino, Bor, O'Callaghan & Williams, 2010,'Family Poverty Over the Early Life Course and Recurrent Adolescent and Young Adult Anxiety and Depression: A Longitudinal Study', Am J Public Health,vol. 100, no. 9, viewed 13 May 2014, (electronic PubMed Central). Rich, Bryne, Curryer, Byles & Loxton, 2013, Prevalence and correlates of depression among Australian women: a systematic literature review, January 1999- January 2010, BMC Research Notes,, viewed 13 May 2014, Smith & Jaffe, 2014, Depression in Women, Helpguide, viewed 13 May 2014,

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