Types of therapy, prevalence of mental health conditions, common reasons for seeking help – and how the picture differs by gender, age, location and socioeconomic status.
Mental illness is one of Australia's largest health challenges. The ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHW) 2020 – 2022 – the most comprehensive dataset available – surveyed almost 16,000 Australians aged 16 – 85 and remains the primary prevalence reference used across government and clinical settings in 2025 – 26.
of Australians (16 – 85) had a 12-month mental disorder
people affected in the past 12 months
have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime (42.9%)
MBS mental health services processed in Q3 2025 alone
Mental health conditions ranked as the second-largest contributor to Australia's total burden of disease at 15%, behind cancer at 17%. The estimated economic cost of mental ill-health and suicide ranges between $43 billion and $70 billion per year, encompassing healthcare, education, housing, justice, employment and quality-of-life impacts.
According to the NSMHW 2020 – 2022 and AIHW prevalence data, the most common 12-month mental disorders driving Australians to seek professional support are:
Within anxiety disorders, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most frequently diagnosed. Among affective disorders, depressive episodes dominate. Mental health issues have been the single most common reason patients visit their GP for seven consecutive years, according to the RACGP's 2023 annual report.
People also commonly seek counselling for relationship difficulties, grief and loss, workplace stress and burnout, adjustment disorders related to life transitions, and parenting challenges. A 2020 national survey of Australia's counselling workforce found depression and anxiety were by far the most frequent presenting problems, alongside eco-anxiety and trauma-related conditions.
The NSMHW 2020 – 2022 reveals stark differences in how mental health conditions present and are managed across genders.
In 2020 – 21, around 3.4 million Australians saw a health professional for their mental health – 13% visited a GP for this purpose, while 8% saw a psychologist. Women were significantly more likely than men to access these services. The ABS found that 19% of women reported high or very high psychological distress, compared with 11% of men – yet research consistently shows men are more reluctant to seek help and attend fewer sessions when they do.
A Movember-funded study of Australian men found that traditional masculine norms – self-reliance, emotional stoicism, and stigma around vulnerability – remain the primary barriers to help-seeking. Men were also more likely to prefer action-oriented, practical therapeutic approaches.
The headspace 2025 survey of more than 3,000 young Australians found that 53% of young women reported high or very high distress, compared with 45% of young men. Among those aged 18 – 25, distress levels reached 65% overall. Encouragingly, young men's willingness to talk about personal or emotional problems has increased since 2022.
Mental health burden in Australia falls disproportionately on younger cohorts. The data consistently shows a gradient from highest prevalence in youth to lowest in older adults.
| Age Group | 12-Month Disorder | High/Very High Distress (K10) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 – 24 yrs | 38.8% | 25.7% | Highest prevalence; females 45.5%, males 32.4% |
| 25 – 34 yrs | ~26% | ~18% | Housing, career and relationship pressures |
| 35 – 44 yrs | ~22% | ~14% | Parenting stress and workplace burnout key drivers |
| 45 – 54 yrs | ~18% | ~12% | Mid-life adjustment; women show rising distress trend |
| 55 – 64 yrs | ~15% | ~11% | Women's distress rising – financial insecurity, caring roles |
| 65 – 85 yrs | ~10% | ~8% | Lower reported prevalence; isolation and under-reporting concerns |
The headspace 2025 survey further showed distress rising from 31% among 12 – 14 year-olds to 65% among 18 – 25 year-olds. LGBTIQA+ young people (77%) and First Nations young people (59%) reported even higher levels. The Queensland Chief Health Officer's 2025 report documented that young females aged 18 – 29 experienced the steepest increase in "mentally unhealthy days" between 2018 and 2024 – a rise of 1.9 days per month (from 7.5 to 9.4).
Where Australians live profoundly shapes both their mental health outcomes and their ability to access care.
People living outside major cities have higher rates of mental and behavioural conditions compared with metropolitan Australians (ABS NHS 2022). Suicide rates climb with remoteness – in very remote areas, the incidence is substantially higher than in urban centres. The mental health workforce thins with increasing distance from cities, with fewer psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health nurses per capita in outer regional and remote zones.
A 2025 analysis of the AIHW 2022 – 23 workforce data found that overall mental health worker numbers decline significantly as remoteness increases. Psychologists and mental health nurses had the highest per-capita rates in rural areas among the specialised professions, but still fell short of urban levels. Psychiatrist coverage in rural Australia remains critically low.
The Better Access initiative's permanent telehealth services (from 2022) have partially addressed geographic barriers. In 2022 – 23, 49% of all MBS mental health services were delivered by psychologists, 27% by GPs, and 20% by psychiatrists. In Q3 2025, more than 3.4 million services were processed nationally – up substantially from pre-pandemic volumes. However, the 2022 evaluation of Better Access found that people in lower socioeconomic, regional, rural and remote areas still experienced fewer benefits.
There is a documented and widening gap in mental health service access between advantaged and disadvantaged populations.
MBS mental health consumer rate in least disadvantaged areas (2021)
MBS mental health consumer rate in most disadvantaged areas (2021)
The AIHW found this disparity grew between 2012 and 2021. The least disadvantaged areas saw a 5 percentage point increase in MBS mental health consumers (from 9.1% to 14%), while the most disadvantaged areas grew by only 3 points (from 6.2% to 9.1%). Multiple factors drive this: session gap fees, fewer local providers, lower health literacy, and competing financial pressures.
Mental Health Australia's 2023 Report to the Nation found that over half of Australians said the rising cost of living was significantly impacting their mental health, and one in five identified cost as a direct barrier to accessing professional support. Financial stress and housing affordability concerns are consistently reported alongside psychological distress in national wellbeing surveys.
Young people aged 15 – 24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) have consistently lower mental health scores than their peers. In 2020, the average mental health score for NEET youth dropped to 58 on the SF-36 scale, compared with 65 for young people who were studying or working.
Australia's mental health system supports a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities, delivered by psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers and occupational therapists.
| Therapy Type | Commonly Used For | Medicare Eligible |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) | Anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, insomnia | Yes |
| Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) | Chronic pain, anxiety, depression, adjustment | Yes |
| Person-Centred Therapy | General wellbeing, self-esteem, relationship issues | Varies |
| Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic | Complex trauma, personality, long-term patterns | Varies |
| Schema Therapy | Personality disorders, childhood-origin patterns | Yes (eligible provider) |
| Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) | BPD, self-harm, emotional dysregulation | Yes |
| EMDR | PTSD, trauma, phobias | Yes |
| Family & Couples Therapy | Relationship conflict, family dynamics, parenting | Limited |
| Integrative / Eclectic | Varies – combines modalities to client needs | Varies |
| Narrative Therapy | Identity, grief, cultural contexts | Varies |
A national survey of counsellors and psychotherapists found the most commonly used modalities in practice were person-centred therapy, integrative therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and CBT. Under Better Access, recognised strategies include CBT, interpersonal therapy, narrative therapy, and relaxation strategies, among others.
Under the Better Access initiative (updated November 2025), eligible patients can access up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year. As of July 2025, the Medicare rebate is $145.25 for a clinical psychologist, $98.97 for a general psychologist, and $87.24 for a social worker. From November 2025, referrals must come from the patient's MyMedicare-registered GP or "usual medical practitioner" to improve continuity of care.
~80% female
Predominantly female workforce
~57% male – only MH profession with male majority
Better distributed in rural areas than other professions
The gender composition of the workforce is notable: psychologists, nurses, social workers and OTs are overwhelmingly female (72 – 85%), while psychiatry remains the only mental health profession with a male majority (57%). This imbalance has implications for male clients who may prefer a same-gender practitioner.
