Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics
Characteristic | Carer n(%) | Person with a mental illness n(%) |
|---|---|---|
Age (Years) a | ||
 18–34 | 6 (4.2) | 58 (40.3) |
 35–54 | 29 (20.4) | 67 (46.5) |
 55–74 | 92 (64.8) | 18 (12.5) |
 75 and over | 15 (10.6) | 1 (0.7) |
Gender a | ||
 Male | 27 (19.0) | 96 (66.7) |
 Female | 115 (81.0) | 48 (33.3) |
Employment status | ||
 In the workforce b | 45 (31.9) | 28 (20.3) |
 Not in the workforce | 96 (68.1) | 110 (79.7) |
Ethnicity c | ||
 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin | 5 (3.6) |  |
 Neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander | 135 (96.4) |  |
Marital Status d | ||
 Married/ living together in a relationship | 105 (73.4) |  |
 Previously married/ never married | 38 (26.6) |  |
Highest Education Level e | ||
 Less than 4 years high school completed | 28 (19.6) |  |
 4 years high school completed | 30 (21.0) |  |
 More than 4 years high school completed | 85 (59.4) |  |
Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage a | ||
 Lowest tertile (Disadvantaged) | 78 (54.9) |  |
 Middle/highest tertile (average/advantaged) | 64 (45.1) |  |
Geographic remoteness a g | ||
 Major cities | 44 (31.0) |  |
 Inner regional | 77 (54.2) |  |
 Outer regional | 21 (14.8) |  |
Years spent caring for the person with mental illness a | ||
 20 years or less | 100 (70.4) |  |
 More than 20 years | 42 (29.6) |  |
Carer and person with mental illness living in the same residence | ||
 Yes f | 75 (52.4) |  |
Carer relationship to person with mental illness f | ||
 Parent | 88 (61.5) |  |
 Other relation | 55 (38.5) |  |
Psychiatric diagnosis | ||
 Schizophrenia |  | 56 (39.1) |
 Bipolar disorder |  | 31 (21.8) |
 Other disorder |  | 56 (39.1) |