Chief Health Officer Charles Guest's report on the health and wellbeing of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) population between July 2006 and June 2008 was presented in the Legislative Assembly. It showed that life expectancy rate at birth in the ACT was 80.3 years for males and 84 for women. This was despite the fact that most are overweight and only a minority eats enough fruit and vegetables.
The report found that 58 per cent of adults and 22 per cent of children in the ACT were overweight or obese in 2007-08. This was less than the national average of 61 per cent for adults and 25 per cent for children. In 2007-08, 7 per cent of adults ate sufficient vegetables on a daily basis, down from 10 per cent in 2004-05. Less than half of adult males and 59 per cent of adult females ate sufficient fruit daily, up from 45 per cent of males and 57 per cent of females in 2004-05.
According to Health Minister Katy Gallagher, life expectancy rates would continue to rise over the next ten years. “This upward trend is expected to continue as mortality rates are declining for many of our leading health concerns such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma and diabetes…Whilst cancer continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the ACT, residents have experienced a declining rate of lung cancer in males and cervical cancer in females,” she said. The report also found levels of risky drinking by men and women have reduced below national rates. Smoking rates and illicit drug use among secondary school students has been declining.
However the report said cases of anxiety and depression are increasing. Mental health disorders now make up 15 per cent of the burden of disease in the ACT, up 2 per cent from the 2008 report. Ms Gallagher added, “One in ten ACT residents reported psychological distress at high to very high levels.” ACT Greens say the figures are concerning.
MLA Amanda Bresnan feels the ACT government is slow to act. “What we're calling for is a recognition that mental health is a very high cause for the burden of disease and we're seeing commensurate funding and the same attention that's given to other areas of disease…It does have to be a gradual process but there are people in the community who aren't obviously getting the services they need and it is obviously and urgent matter.”
The ACT Government while encouraged by the upward trends accepts the challenges and is working towards adequate health care planning to combat the problems.
New collaboration aims to improve mental health services for primary care patients