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The changing profile of mental disorders among Disability Support Pension recipients

Peter Butterworth, Philip M Burgess and Harvey Whiteford
Med J Aust 2011; 195 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2011.tb03196.x
Published online: 4 July 2011

To the Editor: Amid debate about growth in the number of Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients and the increasing percentage of recipients with mental disorders,1,2 the recent federal Budget announced further welfare reforms and significant investment in mental health services.3 There are, however, limitations in the data informing the current discussion.


  • 1 Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.
  • 2 School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 3 Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.



Acknowledgements: 

Peter Butterworth was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (no. 525410).

  • 1. Dunlevy, S. Benefits tighten to get more working. The Australian 2011; 6 Apr. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/benefits-tighten-to-get-more-working/story-fn59niix-1226034353857 (accessed Jun 2011).
  • 2. Karvelas P. Julia Gillard told to overhaul welfare. The Australian 2010; 23 Dec. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/julia-gillard-told-to-overhaul-welfare/story-fn59niix-1225975206718 (accessed Jun 2011).
  • 3. Australian Government. Budget overview. Canberra: Australian Government, 2011.
  • 4. Butterworth P, Burgess PM, Whiteford H. Examining welfare receipt and mental disorders after a decade of reform and prosperity: analysis of the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2011; 45: 54-62.
  • 5. Butterworth P. Estimating the prevalence of mental disorders among income support recipients: approach, validity and findings. Department of Family and Community Services Research Policy Paper Series. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services, 2003: 1-58.
  • 6. Harmer J. Pension review background paper. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2008.

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