The Mental, Social And Physical Health Impacts On...

1.0 Introduction This paper will provide an overview on the mental, social and physical health impacts on Australians living in rural areas. There are many factors contributing towards the disadvantages of living in remote areas, there is inadequate access to services in rural areas such as education, health facilities, jobs, environmental and geographical factors, and social isolation (Francis, 2005). Adequate health services are seen as a basic human right yet those living in remote areas have very limited access to these services (Francis, 2005). The population of Australians living in remote areas are in worse health conditions than those living in major cities (Francis, 2005). Those living in remote areas are said to†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"56 per cent of rural households fall into the two lower income quintiles compared to 36 per cent of capital city households and 45 per cent of other urban households† (Faps, 2011). The cost of food in rural and remote areas is up to 10 per cent higher than those in metropolitan areas (Faps, 2011). â€Å"This gives a â€Å"double deprivation† effect, resulting from lower levels of income combined with higher basic costs† (Faps, 2011). Poor physical and mental health reflects the lower education levels and higher poverty levels in those living in rural areas (Faps, 2011). This shows that living in remote areas is a huge determinant of health. 3.0 Physical impacts of health on Australians living in isolation â€Å"Mortality and illness levels increases as the distance from metropolitan centres increase† (Francis, 2005). Those living in rural areas are subjected to higher levels of physical health impacts such as illness and disease (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015). Some physical impacts that the rural population face is a higher death rate and shorter life span (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015). The main factors that contribute to higher death rates are coronary heart disease, other circulatory diseases, motor vehicle accidents and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Australian Institute of Health and