RESEARCH
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australia’s National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Strategies used for mental health, 2020-21
Self-management strategies for mental health
The connections people make through relationships, places and social activities can build a safety net for their physical and mental health.
Healthy connections with family, friends, partners and co-workers are known to lower levels of anxiety and depression.
In 2020-21:
94.2% of people aged 16-85 years did activities with family or friends in the last four weeks.
93.7% rated their ability to get support from family and friends when they needed it as good, very good or excellent.
86.9% had a good, very good or excellent sense of being part of a group or community.
15.5% of people aged 16-85 years reported feeling lonely in the previous four weeks.
Three in five people (60.8%) took actions to help manage their mental health such as increasing their level of exercise or physical activity (37.5%).
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2020-21Psychological distress
In 2020-21, 15% of Australians aged 16-85 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress.
women were more likely to experience high or very high levels of psychological distress than men (19% compared with 12%)
one in five (20%) Australians aged 16-34 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress, more than twice the rate of those aged 65-85 years (9%).
https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/first-insights-national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing-2020-21
Use of mental health services
In 2020-21, 3.4 million Australians aged 16-85 years (17%) saw a health professional for their mental health.
13% of people saw a GP for their mental health
8% saw a psychologist.
In addition to mental health-related consultations with health professionals, around 612,000 Australians accessed other services for their mental health via phone or digital technologies, including crisis support or counselling services, online treatment programs and tools to improve mental health, and mental health support groups and forums.
https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/first-insights-national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing-2020-21
Aspects of wellbeing
In 2020-21, 15% of Australians aged 16-85 years reported feeling lonely in the previous four weeks, while 16% of households experienced at least one financial stressor such as not being able to pay bills on time.
In 2020-21 many Australians (61%) took actions to help manage their mental health. Of all people aged 16-85 years:
37% increased their level of exercise or physical activity
29% practised thinking positively
28% did more of the things they enjoy.
https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/first-insights-national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing-2020-21
