Socio-economic outcome area 14

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing

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Contextual information

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reporting experiencing psychological distress

Dashboard snapshot: The data below are the most recent at the time of preparing the July 2023 report. Please go to the dashboard to access the current data.

Measure

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reporting experiencing psychological distress

Nationally in 2018-19, 31.1 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over reported having high/very high levels of psychological distress. The proportions were similar across states and territories (figure SE14d.1).

Figure SE14d.1 shows the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years or over with high/very high levels of psychological distress, 2018-19, by jurisdiction. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure SE14d.1 (%)
YearNSWVicQldWASATasACTNTAust
2018-1930.236.230.732.437.131.129.226.931.1

Indicator data specifications

Indicator SE14d: Psychological distress

Related outcome:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing.

Related target:

Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero.

Indicator:

Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people reporting experiencing psychological distress.

Measure:

Numerator — number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (aged 18 years or over) reporting high/very high psychological distress, according to the Kessler 5 score scale

Denominator — total number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the population (aged 18 years or over)

and is presented as a percentage.

Indicator established:

National Agreement on Closing the Gap July 2020

Latest dashboard update for the indicator:

15 June 2023

Indicator type:

Contextual information

Interpretation of change:

A low or decreasing proportion is desirable.

Data source:

Name: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)/National Health Survey (NHS) (non-Indigenous)

Frequency: Periodic

Documentation (links): https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-survey/2018-19

Data provider:

Provider name: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Provider area: Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics

Baseline year:

2018-19 (2017-18 non-Indigenous)

Latest reporting period

2018-19 (2017-18 non-Indigenous)

Disaggregations:

State and territory, and Australia, by Indigenous status

Computation:

Numerator divided by Denominator multiplied by 100

Counting rules

Data relate to people aged 18 years or over living in private dwellings in remote and non-remote areas of Australia, including discrete Indigenous communities. Data for non-Indigenous people exclude people from very remote areas.

Geographical variables are based on a person's place of usual residence.

Numerator

The Kessler-5 (K5) measure of psychological distress is a subset of five questions from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 (K10). The K10 is a non-specific psychological distress scale consisting of 10 questions designed to measure levels of negative emotional states experienced by people in the four weeks prior to interview. The K5 provides a broad measure of people's social and emotional wellbeing.

Responses to the K5 questions are combined to form a K5 score, with a minimum possible score of 5 and the maximum possible score of 25. Low scores indicate low levels of psychological distress and high scores indicate high levels of psychological distress. Scores were grouped and output as follows:

  • low/moderate distress level: 5–11
  • high/very high distress level: 12–25
  • Unable to determine – coded where there was more than one response of 'don't know' or 'did not want to answer' to the K5 questions.

Supporting calculations

95 per cent confidence intervals. See the How to interpret data for further information: https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/how-to/interpret-data.

Data quality considerations:

Estimates that have a relative standard error between 25 per cent and 50 per cent should be used with caution. Estimates with a relative standard error of 50 per cent or more are considered too unreliable for general use.

See NATSIHS explanatory notes for further information: https://www.abs.gov.au/methodologies/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-survey-methodology/2018-19

Data values have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

Future reporting:

Additional disaggregations required for future reporting:

  • Remoteness areas
  • Socioeconomic status of the locality
  • Gender
  • Age group

The Productivity Commission acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Country and Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of people who have passed away.