Australia: health professionals consulted for mental health by type and sex 2021

In the 2021 financial year, approximately 13 percent of people living in Australia had consulted a general practitioner regarding their mental health in the 12 months preceding the survey. Overall, females were more likely to have consulted a health professional regarding mental health than males.

Share of population who consulted a health professional for mental health in the past 12 months in Australia in financial year 2021, by type and sex

Characteristic	Males	Females	Persons
General Practitioner	7.9%	17.6%	12.9%
Psychiatrist	2.2%	3.1%	2.7%
Psychologist	5%	10%	7.6%
Mental health nurse	0.4%	0.4%	0.4%
Other mental health professional	2%	4.1%	3.2%
Other health professional(e)	0.5%	1.4%	1%

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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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