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A new periodic report aims to track Australians’ perceptions of their overall wellbeing, providing insight into why mental health among residents might at times be flagging.
Smiling Mind and KPMG have officially launched the first instalment of the Australian Mental Wellbeing Index, an initiative to better understand the factors contributing to mental wellbeing across Australia.
The first report compares data captured from 2021 to 2022, and the firms will continue to source information at weekly intervals, which will be released in quarterly reports.
The Mental Wellbeing Index score for the first quarter of 2022 is 48.6 (out of a total of 100), 0.9 percent lower than the same period in 2021.
Based on the responses of 226,103 Australian participants, who completed over 880,954 surveys, the index is able to provide information as to some of the motivating factors that might cause wellbeing to fluctuate, providing valuable information for anyone invested in Australians’ overall quality of life, and particularly for business leaders looking to cultivate more wellness-attuned workplaces.
Given the results of the first report, it’s hoped that the research might lead to a better understanding and, therefore, greater, more targeted support for those who feel their emotional health is substandard.
The mental wellbeing of Australians was found to be consistently low over the previous 12 months. Key factors contributing to an overall low wellbeing score include a higher proportion of Australians experiencing challenges with stress (reported by 40 per cent), trouble focusing and concentrating (43 per cent) and difficulty getting a good night’s sleep (34 per cent).
NSW and Victoria saw the most significant peaks and valleys in statewide wellbeing over the year, while Queensland and Western Australia proved to be somewhat more even-keeled. In South Australia, the index has been on a consistent downward trajectory.
Overall, 29 per cent of respondents reported poor wellbeing, with many stating that their social connectedness had declined over the previous 12 months. Just 33 per cent of Australians reported experiencing positive relationships and social connections.
Smiling Mind’s chief executive Dr Addie Wootten noted this dip could possibly be attributed to Australians becoming more isolated and less connected with their social networks, as a result of the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While it is evident that Australian’s mental wellbeing has remained relatively low over the past 12 months it is promising to see the large number of Australians seeking out tools and strategies to proactively support their mental wellbeing, as evidenced by the significant demand we have seen for programs such as those Smiling Mind offers,” Ms Wooten noted.
“Emotional awareness appears to be a key factor in supporting mental wellbeing and we hope that as we return to our new normal, we can support Australians to continue to pay attention to their emotions and take proactive steps to support their mental health and wellbeing.”
KPMG’s mental health advisory lead Andrew Dempster added that while COVID-19 had clearly taken a toll on the population, the data showed there were also cyclical fluctuations that take place as a normal course of events.
“What we can see through the data is there’s a real seasonality to people’s wellbeing. We see lulls around the Christmas and New Year period, and also during colder weather in winter,” he said.
The report stressed a number of factors that could boost Australians’ mental wellness, including participating in social activities that help build connection; strengthening focus and concentration by reducing multitasking, limiting exposure to screens and devices and engaging in passion activities; and improving the quality of one’s sleep.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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