Key facts

  • Each year, approximately one in every five Australians will experience a mental illness
  • It is estimated about 45% of Australians may experience mental illness at some point in their lives
  • Mental illnesses are the third leading cause of disability burden in Australia, accounting for an estimated 27% of the total years lost due to disability
  • About 4% of people will experience a major depressive episode in a 12-month period, with 5% of women and 3% of men affected
  • Anxiety affects over 2 million Australians each year, with approximately 14% of the population experiencing anxiety
  • About 3% of Australians are affected by psychotic illnesses, such as schizophrenia
  • About 4% of the population is affected by an eating disorder at any one time
  • Prevalence of mental illness decreases with age, with prevalence greatest among 18-24 year olds
  • People unemployed or not in the paid workforce generally have higher rates of mental illness that people who are employed
  • Limited research suggests Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may experience higher levels of psychological distress
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people experience higher levels of psychological distress than other Australians, which can increase their risk of mental illness and suicide
  • In Australia, the prevalence of mental or behavioural disorders among people born overseas appears to be similar to those born in Australia, but research is very limited
  • Limited research suggests Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience mental disorders at least as often as other Australians
  • In Australia, the prevalence of mental or behavioural disorders among people born overseas is similar to those born in Australia
  • Many violent people have no history of mental disorder and most people with mental illness (90%) have no history of violence.
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