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National Mental Health Report Card 2023

Overview

Australia's National Mental Health Commission 2023 Report Card reveals concerning trends: mental health prevalence at record highs, particularly among young women (45.5% aged 16-24), while social determinants like financial stress and loneliness worsen. System performance shows mixed results with workforce shortages and cost barriers limiting access to care.

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Key insights

Key Insights:

  1. 21.5% of Australians experienced mental disorders in 2020-2022, up from 19.5% in 2007

  2. Young women most affected: 45.5% of females aged 16-24 had mental disorders

  3. Psychological distress increased significantly from 10.8% (2011) to 14.4% (2022)

  4. People with mental health conditions face higher discrimination, loneliness, and unemployment

  5. Financial stress rising: 18.7% unable to raise $2,000 within a week

  6. 32% shortfall in mental health workers against national planning framework targets

  7. 19.3% delayed mental health care due to cost in 2022-23

  8. Seclusion rates halved since 2009-10, showing some positive safety improvements

 

 

 

 

Did this resource draw on transformative evidence?

<p>This document is <strong>not based on experiential evidence</strong>. It relies primarily on quantitative data from national surveys, government statistics, and administrative datasets (ABS, AIHW, HILDA survey, etc.). While it acknowledges the importance of lived experience perspectives, the report&#39;s findings are derived from statistical analysis rather than personal experiences or qualitative accounts.</p>
<p>This document is <strong>not primarily based on practice wisdom</strong>. It relies on statistical data and quantitative analysis rather than insights from practitioners&#39; clinical experience. While it acknowledges the need to engage with "experts&mdash;including people with lived experience, carers, family and kin, governments and the sector," the current report emphasises empirical data over practitioner knowledge.</p>
<p><strong>This document is heavily based on research and evaluation insights</strong>. It draws from major national studies (National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing), systematic data collections, government surveys, and evaluation reports like the Better Access Initiative Evaluation. The framework uses "empirically-based" indicators from robust, nationally available research data sources.</p>

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