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Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Community Insights
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Adolescents and youth

15–24 years

Health

Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 generally have good health based on a range of measures. This section outlines overall health measures and main causes of ill health.

Self-assessed health

In 2018–19, 60% (92,700) of Indigenous Australians aged 15–24, described their health as excellent or very good.

Indigenous males (64% or 50,200) were more likely to describe their health as excellent or very good than Indigenous females (55% or 42,400) (Figure AY 11).

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Health conditions

In 2018–19, 66% (102,500) of Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 had a current and long-term health condition; that is, conditions lasting or expected to last 6 months or more.

Overall, the most common current long-term health conditions were:

  • diseases of eye and adnexa (32% or 49,200)
  • diseases of the respiratory system (28% or 43,200)
  • mental and behavioural problems (24% or 37,900) (Figure AY 12).
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Respiratory diseases

In 2018–19, the most common type of long-term respiratory condition among Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 was asthma (14% or 21,500) followed by chronic sinusitis (5% or 7,300) (Figure AY 13).

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Mental health conditions

In 2018–19, 24% (37,900) of Indigenous Australians aged 15–24 had a current and long-term mental health condition.

The most common type of currently diagnosed mental health conditions were anxiety (18% or 27,600) followed by depression (15% or 23,400) and behavioural or emotional problems (10% or 15,500) (Figure AY 14).

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Disability

In 2018–19, among Indigenous Australians aged 15–24:

  • 33% (52,000) had some form of disability. Of those who had a disability, 16% (8,400) had profound or severe disability (Figure AY 15a).
  • A higher proportion of males (36% or 28,300) than females (31% or 23,700) had some form of disability (Figure AY 15a).
  • The proportion with disability was higher in non-remote areas (35% or 45,400) than in remote areas (23% or 5,900) (Figure AY 15b).
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Deaths

In 2014–2018, the annual death rate among Indigenous males aged 15–24 (365 deaths or 104 per 100,000 population) was higher than among Indigenous females (190 deaths or 57 per 100,000 population).

The leading cause of death for Indigenous Australians aged 15–24, was suicide (277 deaths or an annual rate of 41 per 100,000 population). Land transport accidents was the second leading cause accounting for 86 deaths, at an annual rate of 13 per 100,000 population (Figure 16).

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