The Trend in Mental Health-Related Mortality Rates in Australia 1916-2004: Implications for Policy

This study determines the trend in mental health-related mortality (defined as the aggregation of suicide & deaths coded as mental/behavioural disorders), & its relative numerical importance, & to argue that this has importance to policy makers. Results show the temporal trend in mental health-related mortality rates has worsened through time. There are no gains. This trend contrasts with gains in longevity from All Causes & the gains from decreases achieved in previously rising mortality rates from circulatory diseases & motor vehicle accidents. Potential-years-of-life-lost calculation shows mental health-related mortality is a proportionately greater cause of death compared with applying headcount metrics. (82 refs.)