Salvation Army reveal mental health is a top concern for Corio residents

An analysis of Geelong’s biggest social issues has revealed how a sense of “disempowerment” is affecting the lives of locals.

Corio electorate residents are more concerned about mental health, alcohol and drug use, family violence and homeless than the average Victorian.

New data from the Salvation Army’s social justice stocktake found 62.1 per cent of surveyed Corio electorate residents rated mental health as their top social justice concern.

While their concerns about housing affordability (49.5 per cent) were on par with other Victorians, each of these other social justice issues rated significantly higher (up to 14

percentage points) than results for either the rest of Victoria or the nation.

“One of the themes that came through the comments from respondents in Corio and across Australia was a sense of disempowerment,” the report read.

“There was a strong sense that these issues need to be addressed, but a certain hopelessness

about how that could happen.”

Residents in the Corangamite were also most concerned about mental health (59.2 per cent), housing affordability (48.5 per cent), family violence (39.8 per cent), alcohol and drug misuse (27.9 per cent) and homelessness (34 per cent).

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.

The results found that in Victoria, 56.7 per cent believed mental health was the biggest social issue that politicians needed to address in their community, which was rated higher than the national average 53.9 per cent.

Housing affordability, alcohol and drug misuse, family violence and homelessness were identified in line with national results – housing affordability (50.4 per cent versus 52.4 per cent nationally); family violence (36.8 per cent versus 35.4 per cent nationally).

Mental health rated as a top concern for the Corio electorate.

Salvation Army Major Bruce Harmer said the data showed what issued really mattered to Australians.

“The purpose behind the Social Justice Stocktake was really, at the beginning of a Federal Election, to highlight the needs that really need addressing and are really prevalent across our community yet often take a back seat to other issues,” he said.

The Salvation Army’s Secretary for Mission, Captain Stuart Glover, said: “This is what the people of Australia are saying matters to them”.

“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.”

Originally published as Salvation Army reveal mental health is a top concern for Corio residents