Rates of depression are slightly higher in women with depression, affecting one in six (17%) compared to one in 10 (10%) men experiencing depression in their lifetime. Across both sub-types, bipolar disorder affects around one in 33 (3%) men and women in their lifetime [1].
Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. Depression can occur at any age. Some mood changes and depressed feelings occur with normal hormonal changes. But hormonal changes alone don't cause depression.
It found that, among Australians aged 16–85, 15% experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress. Females aged 16–34 were more likely to experience psychological distress than males of this age group (26% compared to 14%) (ABS 2022a).
According to research, depression or bipolar disease affects the lives of 12.2 per cent of Australian men between the ages of 16 and 85. Meanwhile, 20.4% of males aged 18 to 65 in Australia have experienced what it's like to live with anxiety at some point.
Message: One in 16 Australians is currently experiencing depression. Breakdown: 6.2% of Australians aged 16 to 85 have experienced an affective disorder in the last 12 months.
Mental illness in Australia
One in five (20%) Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. The most common mental illnesses are depressive, anxiety and substance use disorder. These three types of mental illnesses often occur in combination.
Females reported a higher proportion of mental or behavioural conditions (23%) than males (17%). Overall, those aged 15–24 years had the highest proportion of mental or behavioural conditions (28%) while those aged 0–14 years had the lowest (13%).
Depression affects 1 in 7 people in Australia and it is treatable.
Veterinarians have almost four times the suicide rate of the Australian population. This equates to a veterinarian taking their own life on average every 12 weeks in Australia.
Extant research suggests that men are less depressed, less anxious, and more likely to be aggressive and have substance abuse problems than women.
Women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from major depression than men. However, men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder. While major depression can develop at any age, the average age at onset is the mid-20s.
Recognizing depression in men, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter. About 10% to 17% of men will develop major depression at some point in their lives. Yet many men are reluctant to convey their feelings and seek help when they are in despair.
The fact that increased prevalence of depression correlates with hormonal changes in women, particularly during puberty, prior to menstruation, following pregnancy and at perimenopause, suggests that female hormonal fluctuations may be a trigger for depression.
Today, women are three times more likely than men to experience common mental health problems.
Women around the world report higher levels of life satisfaction than men, but at the same time report more daily stress. And while this finding holds across countries on average, it does not hold in countries where gender rights are compromised, as in much of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.
Not only did we rank 32 out of 38 overall, but when it comes to the mental health of our children, we're doing even worse – 35 out of 38 countries.
Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers — 55.0 fatality rate (75 total fatalities) Roofers — 48.6 fatality rate (101 total fatalities) Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — 34.1 fatality rate (31 total fatalities) Structural Iron and Steel Workers — 25.1 fatality rate (16 total fatalities)
If you have a stressful job, your career can negatively impact your mental health. Nine professions stand out for their impact on mental health: veterinarians, emergency medical technicians, construction workers, childcare workers, doctors, nurses, restaurant workers, humanitarian workers, and lawyers.
In the second half of the 1920s the Australian economy suffered from falling wheat and wool prices, and competition from other commodity-producing countries. Australia was also borrowing vast sums of money, which dried up as the economy slowed. Then the Wall Street crash of 1929 led to a worldwide economic depression.
Although estimates of prevalence vary, a depressive episode affects between 14-30% of young females and 13-17% of males in a 12-month period, with 2.7-8.9% of females and 1.6-9.0% of males suffering a more serious major depression.
Anxiety disorders was the most prevalent disorder group among females, and more common in the 12–17 years age group.
Young and Midlife Adults
The average age of onset for major depressive disorder is between 35 and 40 years of age. Onset in early adulthood may be linked with more depressive episodes, a longer duration of illness, and therefore a more difficult clinical course.
Mental illness is common. One in five Australians experience mental illness every year, and 45 per cent of Australian adults will be affected by mental illness at some time in their life.
50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24. 10% of children and young people (aged 5-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem3, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.