Hopelessness, demoralization and suicidal behaviour: the backdrop to welfare reform in Australia.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To estimate rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, and psychological characteristics of demoralization among Australian income support recipients. To provide information for policy-makers to inform the current welfare reform discussion.

METHOD:
Data from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing were analysed using sequential logistic regression models, comparing working age people dependent on government income support payments with those having other main sources of income.

RESULTS:
Three groups of income support recipients, unemployed, lone mothers and disability payment recipients, reported significantly higher levels on all psychological measures related to demoralization (hopelessness, worthlessness and dissatisfaction with life) than non-recipients. A similar pattern was demonstrated for measures of suicidal ideation and reported suicide attempts, with increased odds of between 3 and 9 for these high-risk groups of welfare recipients. The elevated rates of suicidal ideation, attempts and demoralization among income support recipients were in part explained by sociodemographic characteristics (socioeconomic status, age, educational qualification, experience of serious violence, loneliness, experience of psychiatric disorders), though the unemployed and disability payment recipients remained elevated on the psychological measures.

CONCLUSIONS:
Demoralization, poor mental health and suicidal behaviour are common among income support recipients targeted by recently announced welfare reforms. This needs to be considered in the design and implementation of Australian Government policies. Psychiatric epidemiology has a key role in policy development and evaluation.

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Author information

Author/s: Butterworth, Peter (P); Fairweather, A Kate (AK); Anstey, Kaarin J (KJ); Windsor, Timothy D (TD);

Affiliation: Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia. peter.butterworth(-atsign-)anu.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry (Aust N Z J Psychiatry), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 40 (issue 8) : pp 648-56

Dates: Created 2006/07/26; Completed 2006/12/15; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16866760, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Australia
Disability Evaluation
Educational Status
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Loneliness - psychology
Male
Mentally Disabled Persons - psychology
Middle Aged
Morale

Morale
Motivation
Public Policy
Risk Factors
Self Concept
Single Parent - psychology
Social Security
Social Welfare - psychology
Socioeconomic Factors
Statistics as Topic
Suicide - psychology; statistics & numerical data
Suicide, Attempted - psychology; statistics & numerical data
Unemployment - psychology
Violence - psychology

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