Mental health
- In 2007 in NSW, around 12% of adults (11% of males and 13% of females) reported high or very high levels of psychological distress.
- Around 3% of adults in NSW report very high levels of psychological distress and overall adults cut down on their activities in almost 1 day per month on average due to psychological distress.
- Suicide rates have been dropping in NSW since 1997 but, still, 493 people died by suicide in 2006. This was 5% fewer than in the previous year. Males accounted for almost 80% of suicides in 2006.
- In 2006-07, there were more than 10,000 hospitalisations of NSW residents for intentional self-harm. Females accounted for 60% of these hospitalisations.
- In 2007, around 1.0% of NSW children aged 17 years or under were prescribed stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This was well below the estimated prevalence of ADHD.
- In 2005, one in 6 (16.6%) high school students reported high levels of psychological distress. Out of those who experienced high psychological distress one third talked to no-one about it and another one third talked to someone but found it not at all helpful.
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Copyright notice
This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.
Suggested citation
Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).
Produced by
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on 15 December 2008
