the poorest Aussies were 80 per cent more likely to die by suicide, twice as likely to have heart disease and twice as likely to be jobless if they had a mental illness.
The study found that the situation was also having severe effects on the country’s birth rate, as the most socio-economically disadvantaged communities are estimated to have experienced 18,000 more premature deaths than in comparison to the most advantaged between 2014 and 2018. These deaths were reportedly caused by potentially avoidable diseases contracted by groups between the ages of 30 and 70.
The authors of the report pointed out that despite recent policy reforms and other measures initiated to contract the health disparities within the Australian population, dedicated investment in preventive health was extremely low, amounting to about 1.34 per cent of aggregate health spending. Therefore, they called for “deliberate and urgent” attention that is needed to address these challenges in order to ensure all Australians have a better chance for improved health.
