Mental health status of the South Australian population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine, by the use of a telephone survey, the mental health status of SA adults (18+ years) using the GHQ-28, SF-12 and self-report as indicators of mental health, and to examine risk factors for mental health morbidity.


METHODS
A random representative sample of South Australian adults selected from the Electronic White Pages. Overall, 2,501 interviews were conducted (74.0% response rate).


RESULTS
Overall, 19.5% of respondents had a mental health problem as determined by the GHQ-28, 11.8% as determined by the mental health component summary score of the SF-12 and 11.9% self-reported a mental health condition. The percentage of people with a mental health problem who had used a psychologist or a psychiatrist in the previous 12 months was 9.6% for people diagnosed by the GHQ-28, 16.2% by SF-12 and 23.7% for self-report. The logistic regression analyses undertaken to describe people with a mental health problem as determined by the GHQ-28 and to describe people who visited a psychologist or psychiatrist produced different age categories, demographic and co-morbidity indicators. Variables found in both analyses included living in the metropolitan area, being economically inactive and being a high user of health services.


CONCLUSIONS
One in five South Australian adults has a mental problem. Although the prevalence is higher for younger age groups, older adults are more likely to visit a psychologist or a psychiatrist.


CONCLUSIONS
Telephone interviewing produces robust indicators of the prevalence of mental health problems and is a cost-effective way of identifying prevalence estimates or tracking changes over time.
Taylor
A W
AW
Centre for Population Studies in Epidemiology, South Australian Department of Human Services, Adelaide. taylor.anne@dhs.sa.gov.au
Wilson
D H
DH
Dal Grande
E
E
Ben-Tovim
D
D
Elzinga
R H
RH
Goldney
R D
RD
MacFarlane
A C
AC
Cheok
F
F
Kirke
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires