S.TRUEMAN PhD THESIS 2016

40

relatively higher proportions of remote mental health patients, is overwhelmingly borne by the remote nursing workforce. The AIHW report Australia’s Health 2014 identified several areas of concern in the population profile of remote Australia:

• higher mortality rates and lower life expectancy

• higher road injury and fatality rates • higher reported rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity

• higher death rates from chronic disease • higher rates of alcohol abuse and smoking

• poorer dental health • higher incidence of poor antenatal and post-natal health

• higher incidence of babies born with low birth weight to mothers in very remote areas None of the above is absent in the remote mental health patient population. In addition, the link between mental illness and general poorer health is clearly established in the literature, resulting in a greater demand for the services delivered by remote nurses. 2.2.1 Remote illicit drug use and excessive alcohol use A substantial contribution to the generally poorer health status and profile of the remote population is lifestyles incorporating excessive alcohol and illicit drug use. In this thesis, ‘illicit drug’ refers to drugs that are illegal to possess or use, or any legal drug used in an illegal manner (e.g., volatile substances such as petrol and paint and pharmaceuticals being used for non-medical purposes). This is the definition used in the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (AIHW, 2011a). ‘Excessive use’, or use above or in excess of