Australia's mental health system is financially destructive and completely inadequate at providing patients with the services they need.
Mental health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing (WHO 2021). The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 2021 found that an estimated 1 in 5 (21%) Australians aged 16–85 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months (ABS 2022a).
From this survey, it is estimated that 3.4 million Australians aged 16–85 saw a health professional for their mental health in the previous 12 months (ABS 2022). Of those with a lifetime mental disorder who experienced symptoms within the last 12 months: 38% consulted a general practitioner. 22% consulted a ...
Rationing. There are not enough mental health services to meet the needs of patients. This leads to rationing. In the current situation resources are so limited that rationing has to be tightened to extreme degrees and as a result only the most severely ill patients are offered treatment.
The demand for psychiatrists in Australia has grown significantly due to factors such as increased mental health awareness, population growth, and an aging population. The shortage of psychiatrists has led to limited access to mental health services and increased workloads for existing professionals.
An Australian Psychological Society survey of more than 1400 members nationwide examined the impacts of the pandemic on private, public and not-for-profit psychologists and found: 88% of psychologists reported increased demand in services, equalling the previous record increase set in June 2021.
The employment outlook is for continued solid growth in job opportunities. Employment of MHNs in Australia has risen consistently. Between 2013 and 2021, the number of registered nurses working in mental health expanded from 16,474 to 20,565 (based on health workforce data).
halaxy.com ranked number 1 and is the most visited Mental Health website in Australia in May 2023, followed by psychologytoday.com as the runner up, and powerdiary.com ranking at 3rd place as the leaders of the Mental Health websites in Australia.
Australia may continue to be the lucky country and avoid a recession in 2023, but its global peers may not be so fortunate. Chief economist at Australian Retirement Trust Brian Parker says that Australia is relatively well placed to handle the economic turmoil.
Interestingly, the number of mental health issues does differ from state to state. For example, Tasmania sees the highest rate of anxiety and depression -- at 21.6% and 18.1% affected respectively, while Queenslanders show the highest stress levels, with 27.5% reporting that they're regularly affected by stress.
The AIHW estimates that around $11.0 billion per annum is spent on mental health-related services in Australia.
During 2020–21, there were approximately 13,100 specialised mental health beds available nationally. Of these about 7,100 beds were in public hospital services, 3,580 in private hospitals, and 2,420 in residential mental health care services (Figure FAC.
Mental health in Australia has been through a significant shift in the last 50 years, with 20% of Australians experiencing one or more mental health episodes in their lifetimes. Australia runs on a mixed health care system, with both public and private health care streams.
Globally, the majority of those who need mental health care worldwide lack access to high-quality mental health services. Stigma, human resource shortages, fragmented service delivery models, and lack of research capacity for implementation and policy change contribute to the current mental health treatment gap.
It is estimated that around half of refugees internationally experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (48.7%) (Hamrah et al., 2020), anxiety and psychological distress (40–50%) and that one-sixth have severe mental illness (16%) (Chen, Hall, Ling, & Renzaho, 2017; Guajardo et al., 2018; Taylor et al., 2014).
In the second half of the 1920s the Australian economy suffered from falling wheat and wool prices, and competition from other commodity-producing countries. Australia was also borrowing vast sums of money, which dried up as the economy slowed.
Drug and alcohol use can lead to depression. Many people with depression also have drug and alcohol problems. Over 500,000 Australians will experience depression and a substance use disorder at the same time, at some point in their lives.
In their lifetimes, about one in five Australians will experience depression. Around the world, depression affects around 300 million people.
Sweden. Sweden has the top positive mental health index which basically gives the mental health status of a given population.
The National Mental Health Research Strategy (the Strategy) is driven by the vision of a mentally healthy Australia with an innovative and responsive evidence-based mental health system that is continually improving outcomes that matter to people experiencing mental illness, their families and carers.
Australia ranks 7th on the OECD Better Life Index, based on living conditions and quality of life.
Australia has a high demand for psychologists because of the high number of government employees, healthcare workers, and university students who require psychological help. If you're thinking about studying psychology, Australia is the ideal place for you! Psychology is a highly diverse and sought after field.
The average annual salary for Clinical Nurse Specialist Mental Health jobs in Australia ranges from $110,000 to $120,000.