Derived from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, with higher scores indicating a higher level of distress; lower scores indicate a low level of distress.

A ten item scale is currently employed by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in general population collections (i.e. K10), while a modified five item scale is included in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population collections (K5).

Total scores from the K10 scale will be grouped as follows:

• 10–15 Low;
• 16–21 Moderate;
• 22–29 High; and
• 30–50 Very high.

Total scores from the K5 scale will be grouped as follows:

• 5–11 Low/moderate; and
• 12–25 High/very high.

Presented as a percentage. Rates are directly age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population. 95% confidence intervals and relative standard errors calculated for rates.

100 × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)

Number of people aged 18 years or over with a very high distress score as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

Population aged 18 years or over.

State and territory by sex.

Nationally by:

• remoteness (Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Remoteness Structure)
• 2011 Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintiles and deciles
• sex by 2011 SEIFA IRSD quintiles
• remoteness (major city, other) by 2011 SEIFA IRSD deciles.
• disability status

Grouped high/very high levels of psychological distress—State and territory by:

• Indigenous status
• remoteness (ASGS Remoteness Structure)
• 2011 SEIFA IRSD quintiles
• disability status

Grouped high/very high levels of psychological distress—Nationally by:

• sex by remoteness (ASGS Remoteness Structure)
• remoteness (ASGS Remoteness Structure) by 2011 SEIFA IRSD deciles

Some disaggregations may result in numbers too small for publication.

Most recent data available for the 2016 National Healthcare Agreement performance reporting: 2011-12 (total population, non-Indigenous: AHS); 2012–13 (Indigenous only: AATSIHS).

NO NEW DATA FOR 2016 REPORTING.

The modified K5 scale from the 2012–13 AATSIHS was used with the corresponding 5 questions from the 2011–12 AHS to compare the psychological distress levels of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples.

National Healthcare Agreement

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Specification: Final, the measure meets the intention of the indicator.