One in five Australians aged over 16 years, will experience mental health issues each year, with about forty-five per cent experiencing some degree of mental ill-health at some point in their life. Mental health and drug and alcohol issues are one of the highest contributors to overall population ill-health. Mental health issues impact not only the person with a lived experience, but also their carers, family members, friends and communities.

People living with severe and enduring mental illness have a lower than average life expectancy when compared to the general population, due to co-occurring physical health problems. The incidence of mental health issues and suicide is higher in some vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people who identify as LGBTIQ+.

In 2020, the ABS reported 3,139 confirmed deaths by suicide nationwide, with 876 occurring in NSW.

Mental health

Data for NSW