Mental health advocates say that stress and anxiety caused by job insecurity is threatening to become a major public health problem in Australia.
Beyond Blue, one of the nation’s most prominent mental health organisations, says job insecurity is one of the leading risk factors for depression and even heart disease.
Beyond Blue CEO Kate Carnell says research indicates that the casualisation of the Australian workforce has resulted in an increase in mental health disorders and heart disease amongst workers.
With 40 per cent of the Australian workforce in insecure work arrangements, Ms Carnell says it has become a serious public health problem.
“Heart health is affected by exercise levels, stress levels, dietary approaches and so on, so bad lifestyle outcomes can cause definite heart problems and mental health is very much part of that whole mix,” she said.
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