MEDIA RELEASE
October 29, 2010
Embargo: 11.30 am (AEDT)
129 /2010
Psychological distress high for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people
Nearly one in every three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
experienced high levels of psychological distress, more than twice the rate for
non-Indigenous Australians, according to the latest ABS figures released today.
In 2008, high levels of psychological distress, which includes feelings of
depression and anxiety, were experienced by 31% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander adults.
Rates were particularly high among victims of violence (46%), people with a
disability or long-term health condition (43%), and those who had experienced
discrimination (44%) or removal from their natural family (39%).
Despite high rates of psychological distress, the majority (72%) of adults reported
being happy all or most of the time. Rates were higher among those living in
remote areas (78%) than non-remote areas (71%).
More details on these and other topics, including Housing and Access to health
services, are available in the October release of
The Health and Welfare of
Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
(cat. no. 4704.0),
available for free download from the ABS web site. Additional analysis as part of
this release will be available later in 2010.
Media notes:
Psychological distress is measured using a modified version of the Kessler
Psychological Distress Scale. High scores indicate that feelings of anxiety or
depression may be being experienced on a regular basis, whereas a low score
indicates these feelings are experienced less frequently or not at all.
Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian
Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Media requests and interviews
Corporate Communications 1300 175 070
When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS)
must be attributed as the source
NEWS 
