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Do Aussies hold the secret to happiness?

Monday, May 18, 2009
 
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There must be something good in the air Down-Under — according to a recent survey, at least two-thirds of Australians believe they hold the key to being happy.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tested 22,000 people as part of its 2007/08 National Health Survey and found that around a third of Australians exhibit some level of psychological distress and depressive moods, but that the remaining two-thirds of us are relatively happy.

While women are more likely than men to be unhappy, almost 40 per cent of Australians make a habit of popping some form of 'happy pill' whether it is antidepressants, sleeping tablets, vitamins or herbal treatments to keep their mental wellbeing on track.

The theory goes that happy people are more likely to be in good health and the ABS survey seems to support this with 85 per cent of participants rating their health as good to excellent.

While positive moods and general wellbeing seem to be the trend in our country, we still have our fair share of health problems.

The most common complaints are:

  • poor eyesight (52 per cent)

  • arthritis (15 per cent)

  • hayfever and allergies (15 per cent)

  • back problems (14 per cent)

  • mental or behavioural problems (11 per cent)

  • asthma (10 per cent)

  • deafness (10 per cent)

  • high blood pressure (9 per cent)

  • diabetes (4 per cent).

Are you happy? Tell us your secret below...


 
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User comments
Of coarse we Aussie's are the happiest people,look where we live,beauty abounds,our girls are great ,our guys are great,We are laidback and with it All the people who don't think so have been let down I admit.We really should have a better plan in place laying down the rules for being an Aussie before you come to live here with us.You have to become an Aussie,when you come to live here,we are welcoming of everyone who wants to be an Australian as we are ,you have to learn to live as we do,take it on the chin,laugh it up,invite everyone in the street to a barbee and mingle.We're a great lot when you get to know us,so come on what are waiting for,leave all your old worries and ways behind you and join in with the happiest people in the happiest country. Good on ya mate's.Cheers.
Everyone can be happy.. I wouldn't say Australians have the key to happiness, I say we all do, We just need to find it =D
Gud post fron david of brisbaine, sorri mate cud'nt undrstand most of it cos of the long words. but so long as i got me ute im happy. gud on ya mate.
Australia was a great place to live in the past, not now. No way can you be happy if you live in Western Sydney, imigrant gangs roam the streets most nights here looking for lone Aussies to attack. My family and most people out here have been attacked. Don't bother calling the police all they say is "You must have done something to upset them". Thats what I was told when a gang of about 15 attacked my son in front of my house and broke his leg. Happy to live in Australia. Not white Australians, we live in fear of who is next to be attacked.No I'm not racist just a mother who loves her kids.
Well, I think the article is slightly vague, cause it doesn't reveal what those two- thirds are mostly happy about. There had to be some parameters for measuring happiness, and in valid psychological inventories, questionnaire items usually relate to jobs, family, partnership, general wellbeing (as determined by health status), depression proness and presence etc. While the happiness-health hypothesis might be true and supported with this survey, this still doesn't mean that AT LEAST two-thirds of Australians are generally happy. Also being "relatively happy" is like saying- I might be happy and I might not be happy! You need to report more specific outcomes, given that you have met correct measurement items' criteria to be able to say Australian population is generally happy! I'm not convinced with this report.
Im Indonesian, been working in an Asian country that the name starts with S for almost 2.5 years, Im an Aust PR and my partner is an Aussie. For me, there is no such thing as a perfect society but its a personal preference. I prefer moving back to Australia than living in this country or even my own country. My partner and I dont feel happy being here even though it has been really long time, we really cant adapt and every time we think about Australia, we cant wait to go back there. The problem of obesity in Australia is just a pickle. In here, people are stressed out every day, they would work overtime for nothing, no fun activities arranged by the companies, they dont cook at home, people get diabetes and high blood pressure at young ages (younger than 30), etc. If some of you think that Australia sucks, wait until you go out and live here for at least 3 months.
The key to happiness is in the hands of no one other than yourself. With or without statistics, one of the main reason people are unhappy, depressed or whatever in life is because far too often we place our happiness in other peoples hands, like spouses, children, parents, bosses, etc. The day you wake up and realise that only YOU are responsible for making your self happy is the day you will learn to truly be happy. YOUR life is all about YOU!
Anyone looked at the number of 'glassings' in Australia? Anyone been subject to agressive tailgating on the Pacific Motorway? Anyone looked at the amount of street crime in Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast? Anyone looked at the high level of drink and drug abuse by under-age people? HAPPY COUNTRY? Australians are kidding themselves if they think they have it good, they are living on past reputation when this WAS the lucky country, but that was a long long time ago.
Happiness is a state of mind. You can wake up chewing on a *** Sandwich and be like that all day, or conversely you can decide to to have a drink of Sunshine and make your life better and those that you come in contact with during the day. Happiness is YOUR CHOICE. Which one will you choose?
I find people who make time for themselves to relax, to work and achieve and to keep in good health, time for their family and friends to communicate, protect and just enjoy their company and and also time to help out in the community, be it for the random person or in a group setting are confident in themselves and have the back up to support them when things go wrong. its not about being permenantly happy, its about truly enjoying it when you are happy and when the going gets tough, having the courage to pick ya lip up abd get on with living, not wallowing. Don't sweta the small stuff, you could be dead tommorow. life is a journey to learn.

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