The Salvation Army survey: Mental health is biggest social issue for South Australians
Leading up to the federal election, South Australians have revealed the one issue they worry about most.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
South Australians say mental health is their biggest social policy concern in the run up to the federal election.
Following years of fire, flood and a global pandemic, The Salvation Army asked 15,000 people across the country what the biggest social justice issues were in their electorate.
They were asked about their concerns for themselves, their families, loved ones and local communities – and how these issues would impact their personal decisions when they went to vote next month.
South Australians said mental health was the most important social issue that politicians needed to address.
More than 55.4 per cent rated it their biggest concern, slightly higher than the national average (53.9 per cent).
Housing affordability came in at 47.2 per cent (versus 52.4 per cent nationally), while family violence was 37 per cent (versus 35.4 per cent nationally).
Alcohol and drug misuse (41 per cent) and homelessness (351 per cent) were also concerns.
According to the Chief Public Health Officer’s Report, 29 per cent of South Australian adults reported having a mental health problem in 2018 to 2019.
About 9.6 per cent of South Australian adults reported having psychological distress.
Women and those living in metropolitan areas were more likely to report psychological distress than men and those living in rural areas.
While around 15 per cent of South Australians reported being socially isolated.
Meanwhile, 14.5 per cent of South Australians spent more than 30 per cent of their gross income on housing costs.
South Australia was estimated to have a social housing shortfall of around 32,500 homes.
About 6200 people across South Australia were experiencing homelessness.
In 2019 around 14 per cent of South Australians reported drinking at levels at risk of disease or injury over a lifetime.
Similarly, 15 per cent of South Australians aged 14 years and over reported using illicit drugs.
The rate of domestic violence related sexual assault in the state was 34.7 and 33.4 per 100,000 persons in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
“This is what the people of Australia are saying matters to them,” The Salvation Army’s Secretary for Mission, Captain Stuart Glover, said.
“If politicians are interested in knowing what people are thinking they should read this.
“This survey adds weight to issues, particularly around mental health and housing affordability.
“It’s not just in pockets, it’s everywhere.
“Our hope is that all candidates will take note of what people in their electorates are saying and have a response to that.”
Nationally, the top five concerns were: Mental health (53.9 per cent), housing affordability (52.4 per cent), alcohol and drug misuse (42.6 per cent), family violence (35.4 per cent), homelessness (35.1 per cent).
To see all the results of The Salvation Army’s National Social Justice Stocktake Report (NSJSR), click here
Critical incident declared after fatal crash
The incident unfolded about 4am on Tuesday after two officers in a fully-marked police vehicle saw a dark-grey Holden Insignia sedan stopped on Mamre Road at St Marys.
‘Crazed’ Diddy ‘raped 13yo’, new lawsuit alleges
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of allegedly drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl as two celebrities joined in at an awards afterparty in New York in 2000, according to a new lawsuit.