The chief health officer's biennial report has revealed concerning figures around a rise in self harm for young Canberrans and drinking rates for middle-aged residents.
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But it also showed Canberrans were far less likely to smoke than other Australians, and remained among the healthiest in the country.
ACT's Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said the report was the culmination of a year of analysis of health data.
The report showed a significant increase of hospitalisations for self-harm among young people aged 10 to 24 years old between 2010-11 and 2015-16.
The biggest increase of rates of hospitalisation for self harm was among 15 to 19 year olds, which jumped from 2.5 hospitalisations per 1000 people to 4.1 in 2015-16.
And despite obesity rates in the ACT being below the national average for most age groups, it still remains a leading contributor to disease.
More than seven in 10 Canberrans aged 45 to 54 were either overweight or obese.
There has been a steady increase in chlamydia and gonorrhea rates, particularly in the 20 to 29 year age group, in line with trends being reported across Australia.
The report showed children were drinking less sugar-sweetened drinks, while the proportion of people who had never smoked continued to increase at 66 per cent. The ACT also had the lowest use of illicit drugs, and the proportion of Canberrans aged 14 and older who drank at risky levels over a lifetime dropped.
But the report highlighted concerning levels of drinking among middle-aged Canberrans, with almost 25 per cent of Canberrans aged 40 to 49 drinking more than two drinks a day, putting them at risk of alcohol-related harm.
This was well above the national average of 20.1 per cent, and the only age group in which the ACT was above the national average.
Canberrans were also more likely than the average Australian to drink on a weekly basis, with 40 per cent of Canberrans aged 14 and older drinking each week.
The report confirmed Canberreans still had the highest life expectancy in Australia, at 81.2 for men and 85.1 for women.
And the report also highlighted the need for Canberrans to up their intake of vegetables.
Dr Kelly said chronic disease now caused most of the poor health and premature death in the ACT.
"[The report] highlights a number of very good things, Canberrans continue to have very good health," he said.
"But there's always work that can be done in prevention."
Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the government was focussed on investing in prevention.
"A longer term challenge is tackling dementia and cognitive impairment particularly in older people," she said.
"Prevention is important for Canberrans to be able to live long and healthy lives.
"It can take place in a number of different settings.
"My objective is for the ACT to continue to lead the country in its preventive health approach.
“By focusing on the overlapping key risk factors of smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, obesity, poor nutrition and physical inactivity, we will also continue to improve our health outcomes and reduce the burden of chronic disease on our health system and hospitals.
"If there is one message we need to get out there it is to ‘eat more veggies’."
