Clarifying the type of support needed by people with a psychiatric disability must be a priority
One major focus of Australia’s national mental health strategy has been to increase access to treatment for those with common mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depressive disorders. Despite indications that treatment rates have increased in Australia,1 there is little evidence that the population prevalence of these disorders has declined, a phenomenon also reported in other high income countries where increased treatment has been made available.2
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- 1. Whiteford HA, Buckingham WJ, Harris MG, et al. Estimating treatment rates for mental disorders in Australia. Aust Health Rev 2014; 38: 80-85.
- 2. Jorm AF, Patten SB, Brugha TS, et al. Has increased provision of treatment reduced the prevalence of common mental disorders? Review of the evidence from four countries. World Psychiatry 2017; 16: 90-99.
- 3. Harvey SB, Deady M, Wang M-J, et al. Is the prevalence of mental illness increasing in Australia? Evidence from national health surveys and administrative data, 2001–2014. Med J Aust 2017; 206: 490-493.
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- 7. Parliament of Australia. The provision of services under the NDIS for people with psychosocial disabilities related to a mental health condition. Joint Standing Committee on the NDIS — Mental Health Terms of Reference [webpage]. http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/National_Disability_Insurance_Scheme/MentalHealth (accessed Mar 2017).
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