Mental Health has been spoken about regularly in Lismore and the Northern Rivers since the 2022 floods, as those directly involved sought help for the trauma they endured during the catastrophic event.

The latest snapshot of Australia’s mental health system highlights growing challenges in the mental health system, particularly around affordability and access to care.

The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) has released its 2024 National Report Card for the 2024 calendar year, which examines the prevalence of mental health challenges, the drivers behind it and the performance of the mental health system.

CEO of the Commission, David McGrath, says by collating the data and analysing trends, the Commission can take the pulse of Australia’s mental health system, measuring its successes and shortfalls.

Mr McGrath explains that “the Commission has an important monitoring and reporting role. The Report Card calls out issues for governments to pay attention to, and that’s the value of this report.”

Key elements of the Report Card 2024 shows:

• Increasing financial pressure:
  • The proportion of people finding it difficult or very difficult to cope on their present income has doubled from November 2020 to January 2024, with women consistently reporting higher levels than men.
• Cost preventing access:
  • More than a fifth of people delayed or did not see a health professional for their own mental health when needed due to cost.
• Treatment still falling short:
  • Despite more people with a mental disorder accessing treatment compared to earlier years, treatment rates are still well below current targets proposed through the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework.
• Sense of control declining
  • There has been a decline in the percentage of people reporting a high sense of control over events in their life since 2019, dropping from 75.8% to 71.3%.
• Encouraging progress of seclusion and restraint
  • Progress continues in reducing the national rate of seclusion and physical restraint in public hospital mental health care.

Mr McGrath says it’s important that funding of mental health supports and treatment meet the needs of our communities.

"We need to see planned service commissioning matched to people’s needs, with greater integration amongst health services and with other services, like housing and financial supports. Ultimately, everyone deserves fair access to the right mental health care, no matter where they live or how complex the system may be.”

The Commission will continue to build on the Report Card with key stakeholders and the sector.

For more information, read the full National Report Card 2024, which is available on the Commission’s website.