Depression Statistics in Australia: Prevalence, Trends, and Impact

When asking about the serious state of mental health in Australia, one only has to look at the stats. For example, one in 5 Australians experience a mental health condition every year, and depression is one of the most common illnesses affecting our population.

The statistics on depression in Australia show that mental illness affects young people at alarming rates, is on the rise, and should be taken seriously.

Here, Medmate unpacks the data and reveals statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on depression in Australia:

Depression is more prevalent in younger people

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that 2.1 million Australians, or 9.3 per cent of our population, were suffering from some form of depression. On average, around 1 in 7 people – 1 in 6 women and 1 in 8 men – will experience depression at some stages in their lives.

It’s clear that younger people are more at risk of developing depression. A recent national survey of mental health from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 20% of Australians between the age of 16-34 experienced varying high levels of mental distress: almost double that of elderly people aged 65-85. On top of this, 1 in 7 children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 17 will experience a mental illness.

Depression is on the rise in Australia

Over the past 15 years, depression rates have almost doubled in Australia. According to research by Housing Income Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA), an estimated 19% of Australians reported being diagnosed with depression, anxiety or any other serious mental illness at some time in their life. This is a significant increase from just 11% in 2009.

Depression is particularly rising in young people

Mental health disorders, like depression, among young people have increased by nearly 50 per cent in 15 years. In 2023, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that nearly 40 per cent of young Australians aged 16 to 24 experienced a mental health disorder. This is up from just 26 per cent in 2007.

How much is spent on mental health services in Australia?

Spending on mental health-related services in Australia has increased from $10.9 billion in 2017-18 to $12.2 billion in 2021-22. This means that national spending increased from $439 per capita in 2017–18 to $472 per capita during 2021–22, an average annual increase of 2% in real terms.

How Medmate helps Australians with mental health care

While depression statistics reveal a dire situation in Australia, Medmate is a team who are committed to reversing the trends. As Australia’s leading team of telehealth professionals, we help people suffering from depression with our empathetic, non-judgemental care. Providing discreet mental health services from the comfort and convenience of your own home, Medmate makes it simple and convenient to get treated for depression.

Get in touch with a doctor or online psychologist from Medmate today and start feeling yourself again.