Record demand for mental health services

Demand for mental health support across Australia surged to record levels in 2021.

The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHW) conducted in 2020–21 found that about 17.5 per cent of people aged 16 to 85 had at least one session with a mental health professional about mental health within that year.

In addition, 4.4 per cent (or 864,100) of Australians accessed at least one digital service for their mental health, such as crisis support or counselling services, and online treatment programs or tools.

The study, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, involved more than 5500 people aged 16 to 85 and was released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last year.

The ABS says the study is the “gold standard” for information on the prevalence of mental disorders in Australia.

Commenting on the study, assistant minister for mental health and suicide prevention, Emma McBride, said the record demand for mental health support was especially pronounced among young people.

Federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the study indicated bushfires, floods and the pandemic had a “major impact” on mental health.

Linda Fardell, head of health and disability statistics at the ABS, said the study showed one in five Australians (21.4 per cent) experienced a mental disorder in 2020–21.

In the category of mental disorders are panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety disorders were the most common group of mental disorders, affecting nearly 17 per cent of people. Fardell said about 7.5 per cent of Australians had an “affective or mood disorder” such as depression, while 3.3 per cent of people had a substance use disorder. n