healthy-thought

Health promotion is a powerful and cost effective way to maintain a healthier community. It enables people to increase control over and improve their health.

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Mental health and wellbeing

By 2020, depression alone will constitute one of the largest health problems worldwide. [1]
In 1996 in Australia mental disorders were responsible for nearly 30% of the non-fatal disease burden. [2]
Positive mental health can influence onset, course and outcomes of both physical and mental illness. [3]

References

Murray C and Lopez A, eds, 1996, The global burden of disease: a comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from disease, injuries and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020, Harvard School of Public Health on behalf of the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, distributed by Harvard University.
Mathers CD, Vos TE, Stevenson CE and Begg SJ 2000, 'The Australian Burden of Disease Study: measuring the loss of health from diseases, injuries and risk factors', Medical Journal of Australia, 2000: 172:592: 596.
AIHW 2004, Australia’s Health 2004, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Canberra.

Discrimination and violence

Same-sex attracted youth are on average three times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth. [1] Racism and discrimination can contribute to a heightened sense of anxiety for new arrivals. The mental health impacts of ra...

Economic participation

In 2000, one in every eight Australians lived in income poverty. If poverty is assessed after housing costs have been accounted for, one in five adults aged 25-44 years were living in poverty. While income inequality has increased in m...

Social connection

Nearly 16% of Australian households cannot afford to participate in social activities such as family holidays, having a night out or having family or friends over for a meal. The proportion of people living alone is increasing markedly...