The mental health conditions examined were anxiety, depression, harmful alcohol and drug use, self-harm and suicide attempts.
Childhood maltreatment, which is classified as physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and emotional or physical neglect before the age of 18, was found to account for 41 per cent of suicide attempts in Australia, 35 percent for cases of self-harm and 21 per cent for depression.
The analysis, published in JAMA Psychiatry, is the first study to provide estimates of the proportion of mental health conditions in Australia that arise from childhood maltreatment.
The researchers said the results are a wakeup call for childhood abuse and neglect to be treated as a national public health priority.
Dr Lucinda Grummitt, from the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre, who led the study, said the results are ‘devastating’ and are an urgent call to invest in prevention – not just giving individual support to children and families, but wider policies to reduce stress experienced by families.
“Investments to address childhood maltreatment have the potential to avert millions of cases of mental disorders in Australia,” she said.
The analysis also found that if childhood maltreatment was eradicated in Australia, more than 1.8 million cases of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders could be prevented.
The study also found elimination of childhood maltreatment in Australia would, in 2023, have prevented 66,143 years of life lost (death) and 118,493 years lived with disability.
Researchers examined data that included national surveys provided by the Australian Child Maltreatment Study in 2023 (8500 participants), the Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-2022 (15,893 participants) and the Australian Burden of Disease study 2023.
The study made use of analytical methods to investigate the link between child maltreatment and mental health, which isolated other influential factors such as genetics or social environments. This provides stronger evidence that childhood maltreatment causes some mental health conditions.
Mental health conditions are currently the leading cause of disease burden globally and affect 13 percent of the global population.
In Australia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people.
Previous research (independent to the University of Sydney study) found more than half (53.8 percent) of Australians experienced maltreatment during their childhood.
Grummitt said there are effective interventions, such as programs to support children experiencing maltreatment or parent education programs, but the most sustainable solution to prevent child maltreatment is policy-driven prevention.
“Policies to alleviate stress experienced by families, such as paid parental leave, affordable childcare, income support like Jobseeker, and making sure parents have access to treatment and support for their own mental health could make a world of difference for Australian children,” she said.
“Addressing the societal and economic conditions that give rise to child maltreatment can play a large part in preventing mental disorders at a national level.”
The researchers cite an example in the United States where the introduction of state paid parental leave policies and timely access to subsidised childcare were strongly linked to reduced rates of child maltreatment.
If you or anyone you know needs help:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890
QLife on 1800 184 527
ReachOut here
