more_vert
The National Mental Health Commission’s 2024 Report Card, released in July, shines a spotlight on the urgent need for a more coordinated and equitable mental health system in Australia.
Each year the Report Card tracks core indicators of mental health and wellbeing across the population. This year, supplementary data collected up to and throughout the 2024 calendar year has provided a more detailed and contemporary picture of how key outcomes are evolving.
The Report Card helps us take the pulse of Australia’s mental health system, measuring its successes and shortfalls. The findings reveal a system under pressure. While life satisfaction and psychological distress remain steady, Australians’ sense of control over events in their life has declined, from 75.8% in 2019 to 71.3% in 2023.
Young people at greater risk
Younger adults aged 18–29 years continue to report significantly higher levels of psychological distress, averaging around 20%, compared to just 3% among those aged 65 and over. These trends are consistent with longitudinal studies examining mental disorder prevalence and psychological distress across younger cohorts. These trends may reflect growing worries among young people, including financial insecurity, concerns about climate change and other life challenges that affect health and wellbeing — the social determinants of health.
Financial stress and access to care
Cost-of-living pressures are having a profound impact on mental health. The proportion of people struggling to cope on their current income has doubled — from 17.1% in November 2020 to 34.6% in January 2024. Women consistently report higher levels of financial stress than men.
This financial strain is directly affecting access to care. In 2023–24, more than one in five Australians delayed or avoided seeing a health professional due to cost. For psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, this figure rises to nearly one in four (24.6%). Even general practitioners (GPs), often the first point of contact, saw one in ten patients delay care due to affordability.
A fragmented system
GPs are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing mental health challenges. They also remain the most common providers of mental health services, with 78 consultations per 1000 people in 2023–24. Yet the broader system — spanning primary care, hospitals, private providers, community services and digital platforms — remains fragmented and difficult to navigate. People experiencing mental health challenges are often left to piece together care from disconnected services. The lack of consistent pathways leads to delays, duplication, and distress for those seeking support.
Planning for a better future
While more people are accessing treatment than in previous years, service levels still fall short of targets set by the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework. This framework offers a model for coordinated planning, helping policy makers estimate population needs and determine the appropriate mix of services. However, its implementation remains inconsistent. To meet the needs of our communities, mental health funding must be aligned with population demand. This means commissioning services that reflect local needs, and integrating health care with housing, financial support, and other essential services.
A national imperative
Mental health is a national issue that demands action from all levels of government. It is time to move beyond fragmented solutions and commit to building a coordinated, equitable, and sustainable mental health system. Everyone deserves fair access to the right mental health care — no matter where they live or how complex the system may be.
David McGrath is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Mental Health Commission.
The statements or opinions expressed in this article reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy of the AMA, the MJA or InSight+ unless so stated.
Subscribe to the free InSight+ weekly newsletter here. It is available to all readers, not just registered medical practitioners.
If you would like to submit an article for consideration, send a Word version to mjainsight-editor@ampco.com.au.