Justice Stocktake 2025
Home | Mental Illness & Wellbeing - Addressing the Spectrum
Mental health
Mental health and wellbeing, just like physical health, exist on a spectrum. Mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders are common, affecting millions of Australians of all ages and backgrounds. It is also important to recognise that less severe mental health concerns still undermine the mental wellbeing of too many Australians.
Any number of factors can contribute to a person’s experience of mental ill health, particularly economic stresses such as unemployment and homelessness, and social factors including family and domestic violence, discrimination and exclusion, loneliness and social isolation. Minor mental health problems can develop into more significant illness and this can have monumental negative impacts upon every component of a person’s work, social and family life. People experiencing significant mental illness can find it difficult to maintain employment, stable housing, connection to loved ones, and even physical health.
While significant progress has been made in recent years to raise awareness and improve access to mental health services, challenges persist in addressing the diverse needs of the population. Access to mental health services remains a critical issue, particularly in regional and remote areas where services are often limited or inaccessible. Long wait times, high costs, and a lack of culturally appropriate services can create barriers to seeking help for those in need. Additionally, stigma surrounding mental illness continues to deter individuals from seeking support and can exacerbate feelings of shame and isolation.
Mental illness does not discriminate. It is important that anyone experiencing mental ill health can access timely, non-judgmental and effective support so everyone can achieve and maintain mental health and wellbeing.
People living with mental ill health are likelier to develop a physical illness and are more likely to be hospitalised for preventable reasons.[1]
People living with mental illnesses have a life expectancy 10 to 15 years shorter than the general population, and this trend is growing.[2]
44% experienced mental ill health
44 per cent of the population, approximately 8.6 million Australians, have experienced mental ill health at some point in their life.[3]
42% in the past 12 months
21 per cent of Australians (4.2 million people) have experienced mental ill health in the past 12 months.[4]
We have the power to make a difference
We can urge action from our governments
Economic and social factors can negatively impact a person’s mental health. Systemic issues such as poverty, housing insecurity, family and domestic violence and other social and economic factors need to be addressed for any mental health strategy to be effective.
Governments can work together to implement diverse, ambitious, evidence-based trial programs to explore new approaches and deliver active outreach. One key priority is fixing the issue of the “missing middle” of mental health care provision, to address mental ill health before a person reaches a crisis.
We can implement change in our community and our workplaces
It is critical that workplaces treat employees’ and volunteers’ mental health and wellbeing as an element of Workplace Health and Safety (WHS). One action workplaces can take is to offer relevant staff and volunteers, including managers, leaders and senior staff members, training in mental health first aid just as we do physical first aid.
Our community groups can be powerful in providing social connection that can build resilience against mental ill health. It is important that we make sure that our events, activities, and spaces are welcoming for all people and do not create stigma around mental ill health.
We can have influence in our personal lives
In our own lives we can find strategies to build positive mental health and wellbeing. This includes asking for help when it is needed and finding out about local supports and services to foster positive mental health and address mental health concerns.
We can talk to the people in our lives if we are worried about their mental health, ask if they are okay, listen and help them to access support. If you are not sure what to say, there are helpful resources online.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Physical health of people with mental illness. [Link] ↩︎
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Physical health of people with mental illness. [Link] ↩︎
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Prevalence and impact of mental illness. [Link] ↩︎
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Prevalence and impact of mental illness. [Link] ↩︎