Last updated: May 26, 2015


Health Problems

Mental illness 'more likely for diggers'

British soldier

Picture: AFP Source: AFP

DIGGERS are far more likely to suffer mental illnesses than the general population, a report shows.

Serving Australian Defence Force personnel and former members suffer more panic attacks, anxiety and stress than other people, Roy Morgan Research reveals.

Male members and former members are 25 per cent more likely than other males aged over 14 to have had at least one form of mental illness.

However, they don't suffer stress more than the average Australian male and are less likely to suffer depression.

Female defence force members could be up to six times more likely than other women to have had a mood disorder.

Two in five suffer stress, a quarter have depression and one in seven report panic attacks.

About 50,000 Australians were surveyed for the research in 2012, among them 343 male defence force personnel and 94 female defence force personnel.



* Stress - 20 per cent (average 18 per cent)

* Panic attacks - 8 per cent (3 per cent)

* Anxiety - 15 per cent (9 per cent)

* Depression - 8 per cent (10 per cent)

* Total - 32 per cent (26 per cent)


* Stress - 41 per cent (28 per cent)

* Panic attacks - 15 per cent (six per cent)

* Anxiety - 27 per cent (17 per cent)

* Depression - 25 per cent (15 per cent)

* Total - 46 per cent (38 per cent)

Source: Roy Morgan Research