Data prompts further calls on health

URGENT change to the delivery of healthcare in Tasmania has been called for by medical experts after a new report revealed the health of young Tasmanians is among the worst in the country.

Data released today by private health provider St Lukes Health revealed Tasmanians aged 25 to 34 are more likely to have unprotected sex, brush their teeth once a day and have higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to their interstate counterparts.

Of the 350 young Tasmanians surveyed, it was revealed more than half identified as overweight or obese, while more than a third of men reported having safe sex only “sometimes” or “never”.

Statistics also revealed more than one third of those surveyed reported accessing professional help for their mental health.

General Practitioner Jerome Muir Wilson said the report indicated Tasmanians will need higher levels of healthcare than in previous generations.

“Not only is healthcare the biggest spend in the state budget, unhealthy people cannot contribute to our communities when they are unable to work, learn and innovate,” he said.

“To relieve these pressures and future-proof our health system, we need to urgently support young Tasmanians and their families.”

Mental Health Council of Tasmania chief executive Connie Digolis said the data was from a relatively small sample size and might not give a clear enough indication to the state’s mental health condition.

“We can look at it with interest but caution,” she said.

“But I think there are improvements to be made in the space of mental health. Anxiety and depression are largely preventable so if we take a stronger preventable approach we can better support those at risk.”

The data follows an independent report released last month into Tasmania’s mental health services by health policy analyst Martyn Goddard, based on data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It showed by 2015-16 the State Government’s share of Tasmanian mental health funding was the lowest in the nation.

Health minister Michael Ferguson in October defended the Government’s obligations to mental health and said the budget’s $104 million plan for mental health was welcomed by mental health stakeholders.

Labor health spokesperson Sarah Lovell said more work needed to be done to address mental health among schoolage children.