Mental health
Statistics
Nearly half of all people in Australia have experienced a mental health condition in their lifetime.
In 2020–2022, of the 19.8 million Australians aged 16–85 years, 42.9% (8.5 million people) had experienced a mental condition at some time in their life. 43.6% of females had experienced a mental health condition and 42.2% of males.1
Almost a third of people in Australia have experienced an anxiety disorder* in their lifetime.
In 2020–2022, 28.8% (5.7 million people) had experienced an anxiety disorder such as Social Phobia or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in their lifetime. A higher proportion of females (34.2%) than males (23.2%) had experienced an anxiety disorder.1
One in six people in Australia have experienced a mood disorder** - including depression - in their lifetime.
In 2020–2022, 16.0% (3.2 million people) had experienced an affective disorder in their lifetime such as a Depressive Episode. A higher proportion of females (18.5%) than males (13.3%) had experienced an affective disorder. 1
4.3 million people have experienced a mental health condition in the past 12-months.
In 2020–2022, one in five Australians (21.5%) had a 12-month mental disorder. Females (2.5 million, 24.6%) and Males (1.8 million, 18.3%). 1
1.5 million people have experienced symptoms of mood disorders - including depression - in the past 12-months.
In 2020–2022, 7.5% of Australians aged 16–85 years (8.6% of Females and 6.5% of Males) had a 12-month Affective disorder. 1
3.4 million people have experienced symptoms of anxiety disorders in the last past 12-months.
In 2020-2022, 17.2% of Australians aged 16–85 years had a 12-month Anxiety disorder. Females (2.1 million, 21.1%) and Males (1.3 million, 13.3%). 1
One in six people in Australia experience high or very high psychological distress.
In 2020-22, 16.7% of Australians aged 16-85 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress. Females (19.4%) were more likely to experience high or very high levels of psychological distress than males (13.9%). 1
One in five people in Australia (3.4 million) saw a health professional for their mental health.
In 2020–2022, 17.4% of Australians aged 16–85 years saw a health professional for their mental health in the last 12 months. 1
More people are seeking support from mental health professionals for their mental health. Women and young people are the most likely to seek support.
In 2020–2022, there were 4.3 million Australians aged 16–85 years with a 12-month mental disorder. Of these, 1.9 million (45.1%) saw a health professional for their mental health.1 This has increased from 35% in 2007. 2 Females and people aged 16-34 years were more likely to have seen a health professional for their mental health (Females 51.1% compared with males 36.4%; people aged 16–34 years 46.2% compared with people aged 65–85 years 35.1%). 1
Young women are more likely to experience a mental health condition than young men.
Almost half of females (45.5%) aged 16–24 years and a third of males (32.4%) aged 16–24 years had a 12-month mental disorder. 1
Every day in Australia, nine people die by suicide, seven of them are men.
More than 3300 people died by suicide in 2024. For males: 2,529 deaths have been initially identified as being due to suicide. For females: There were 778 deaths due to suicide.3
* An anxiety disorder is defined by the ABS in this research as one or more of the following: panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
** An affective or mood disorder is defined by the ABS in this research as one or more of the following: depressive episode, dysthymia and bipolar affective disorder.
References
1 ABS (2023) National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/latest-release
2 ABS (2007) National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Retrieved January 2025 from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2007
3 ABS (2025) Causes of death, Australia. Intentional self-harm deaths (Suicide) in Australia 2024. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release