Australia’s largest provider of natural health courses, Endeavour College of Natural Health, recently conducted a survey which found that almost half (46%) of Australians care more about their health now than before the pandemic and nearly two-thirds (61%) of Australians want to learn more about health to better care for themselves and their loved ones.

This move towards study for self-care, as opposed to learning for a job or upskilling for a new career, is fantastic news for the wellbeing of our nation.

While recent decades were more likely to see us learning a language or doing a cooking class, it seems the ‘2020s is a time for self-care, with thousands of Australians becoming educated about eating disorders, food psychology, gut health, nutrition, women’s health, mental health and holistic health. 

And the timing couldn’t be better with a startling spike in some health concerns off the back of the pandemic.

According to a 2022 health survey conducted by Endeavour College, more than two-thirds (71%) of Australians have been impacted by mental health issues since COVID hit, either directly or someone close to them.

The survey also found that one in 10 Australians has been greatly impacted by an eating disorder, a figure that’s slightly higher for women (11%) than men (8%). Young Australians have been the hardest hit, with the majority (57%) of 18 to 24-year-olds impacted by an eating disorder, either affecting themselves or someone they know.

The research also revealed that women’s health and skin health is concerning for young Australians with 13% and 25% of 18 to 24-year-olds seeking help for these issues respectively.

Immunity support is of interest to many 35 to 44-year-olds (15%), while a fifth (20%) of over 65s are troubled by chronic illness.

These statistics tell us there are a lot of people struggling with different health issues and they want to become more knowledgeable so they can live a healthier life and help understand what friends and family are going through to better support them.

With general health and wellbeing also a hot topic among health-conscious Australians, many self-care students are cottoning on to the importance of gut health when it comes to improving overall health.

Since Endeavour College launched its first suite of short courses, the most sought after subject has been gut health, which has prompted the team at Endeavour Short Courses to design an advanced gut health course (due in June this year).

The popular gut health course compiles the latest information in this emerging field for anyone wanting to better understand and improve their gut health through diet and lifestyle changes. It explores the gut-brain axis and how what we eat effects our mood, as well as the recent discovery of an exciting new ‘biotic’, dubbed psychobiotics, which are being researched for their anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects.

Australians are among the most in-the-know about microbiome with Endeavour’s research showing only a handful of Australians (4%) don’t believe gut health is important. Most (56%) believe it’s vital for overall health, with young and old understanding how vital good gut health is for overall health. About a quarter (25%) of 18- to 24-year-olds seek help for gut health while 73% of older Australians believe gut health is paramount.

With an aging population and an alarming rise in some diseases and diagnoses in recent times, knowledge and education are important tools to help us better care for ourselves and those around us.

Become more knowledgeable about health in new short online courses at endeavourshortcourses.edu.au