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July 15, 2025Australian & New Zealand Journal of PsychiatryOpen Access

Consultation with health professionals for mental health in Australia in 2020–2022 and changes since 2007: Findings from the 2020–2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing

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Authors

MHMeredith HarrisCTCaley TappJVJoshua Vescovi

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Overview

National survey reveals increased mental health consultations across Australia from 2007 to 2022, highlighting persistent socioeconomic disparities and service gaps.

Key Points

  • To estimate the proportion of Australians aged 16 to 85 years consulting health professionals for mental health between 2020 and 2022, and assess changes since 2007.
  • Analyzed nationally representative data from the 2020–2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (N = 8,841) and compared them with findings from the 2007 survey.
  • Used multivariate regression models to examine associations between past 12-month consultations and demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors.
  • Consultations with health professionals for mental health increased from 11.9% in 2007 to 17.4% in 2020–2022, driven by higher utilization of psychologists (123% increase), non-medical mental health professionals (64% increase), and general practitioners (53% increase).
  • Among individuals with a 12-month mental disorder, 46.6% consulted a professional in 2020–2022 compared to 37.5% in 2007, with rates scaling by severity: 22.9% for mild, 48.4% for moderate, and 68.8% for severe cases.
  • Multivariate regression showed consultations were positively associated with female sex, age under 65 years, unmarried status, disorder severity, and affective or anxiety disorders, with pronounced income and geographic divides across provider types.

Cite This Study

Harris et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7ea12a6cdd7a4db3026530https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674241307919
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Also Consider

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  5. 5Disparities in mental health service use in Australia: Analysis of the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2020–2022)2026 · 1 citations