Australia: health professionals consulted by mental disorder sufferers by type and sex 2021

In the 2021 financial year, approximately one quarter of males with a 12-month mental disorder living in Australia had consulted a general practitioner regarding their mental health in the 12 months preceding the interview. Overall, females with a mental disorder were more likely to have consulted a health professional than males.

Share of population with a mental disorder who consulted a health professional in Australia in financial year 2021, by type and sex

Characteristic	Males	Females
General practitioner	26.4%	45.8%
Psychiatrist	7.4%	8.1%
Psychologist	16.7%	25.3%
Other mental health professional*	8.6%	10.2%
Any service used for mental health**	37%	54.7%

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Release date

July 2022

More information

Region

Australia

Survey time period

December 5, 2020 to July 31, 2021

Number of respondents

5,554 households

Age group

16-85 years

Method of interview

Face-to-face interview

Supplementary notes

Includes consultations with health professionals for mental health within the 12 months prior to the interview by people with any 12-month mental disorder.

*Includes mental health nurse and other mental health professional.

** Also includes specialist doctor or surgeon, other health professional and hospital admissions for mental health.

Study included all usual residents in Australia living in private dwellings in both urban and rural areas in all states and territories, except very remote parts of Australia and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The exclusion of residents in special dwellings (e.g., hotels, boarding houses, and institutions) and homeless people means the results are likely to underestimate the prevalence of mental health disorders in the Australian population.

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