title: Changes in psychological distress in Australian adults between 1995 and 2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To monitor changes in psychological distress in Australia over a 16-year period during which the availability of mental health services was increasing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on psychological distress using the 4-NS scale were analysed from national surveys of adults carried out in 1995, 2003-04 and 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No change in psychological distress was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data show no improvement in adult mental health during a period when the availability of pharmacological, psychological and population interventions increased. Regular population monitoring of mental health is needed in the future in order to identify emerging needs and to evaluate the impact of service improvements and preventive programmes.
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. ajorm@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Anthony F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Jorm
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Reavley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*