# data[].attributes.headline
National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-2021

# data[].attributes.subject
National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-2021

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
1. Home

2. Articles

3. First insights from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21

In 2020-21 the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted the first cohort of the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHW), a component of the wider Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study (IHMHS). Information collected in the NSMHW will be used to help understand the mental health of Australians, including their use of services and their social and economic circumstances.

First insights for 2020-21 are presented below. More comprehensive statistics will be released in June 2022, including the number of Australians with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. See Future releases below for more information.

Image

Description

In 2020-21, 15% of Australians aged 16-85 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress.

women were more likely to experience high or very high levels of psychological distress than men (19% compared with 12%)

one in five (20%) Australians aged 16-34 years experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress, more than twice the rate of those aged 65-85 years (9%).

Image

Description

In 2020-21, 3.4 million Australians aged 16-85 years (17%) saw a health professional for their mental health.

13% of people saw a GP for their mental health

8% saw a psychologist.

In addition to mental health-related consultations with health professionals, around 612,000 Australians accessed other services for their mental health via phone or digital technologies, including crisis support or counselling services, online treatment programs and tools to improve mental health, and mental health support groups and forums.

Image

Description

In 2020-21, 15% of Australians aged 16-85 years reported feeling lonely in the previous four weeks, while 16% of households experienced at least one financial stressor such as not being able to pay bills on time.

In 2020-21 many Australians (61%) took actions to help manage their mental health. Of all people aged 16-85 years:

37% increased their level of exercise or physical activity

29% practised thinking positively

28% did more of the things they enjoy.

Scope

The scope of the study includes:

all usual residents in Australia aged 16-85 years living in private dwellings

both urban and rural areas in all states and territories, except for very remote parts of Australia and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The study excluded the following people:

visitors to private dwellings

overseas visitors who have not been working or studying in Australia for 12 months or more, or do not intend to do so

members of non-Australian defence forces stationed in Australia and their dependants

non-Australian diplomats, diplomatic staff and members of their households

people who usually live in non-private dwellings, such as hotels, motels, hostels, hospitals, nursing homes and short-stay caravan park (people in long-stay caravan parks, manufactured home estates and marinas are in scope)

people in Very Remote areas

discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The exclusion of persons living in Very Remote areas and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is unlikely to impact on national estimates, and will only have a minor impact on any aggregate estimates that are produced for individual states and territories, except the Northern Territory where the excluded population accounts for around 21% of persons.

Sample design

Households were randomly selected to participate in the study. One person aged 16-85 years or over was randomly selected in each household to complete the study questionnaire. If the randomly selected person was aged 16-17 years, parental consent was sought for the interview to proceed.

The sample was designed to target persons aged 16-24 years to improve estimates for this age group. People in this age group had a higher probability of being selected in the sample.

Response rates

There were 5,554 fully responding households in the study, a response rate of 57.1%. These were completed face-to-face with an ABS interviewer.

Some respondents were unable or unwilling to provide a response to certain data items. The records for these people were retained in the sample and the missing values were recorded as 'Not stated' or 'Don't know'. No imputation was undertaken for these missing values.

Collection method

The study was collected over an 8-month period from 6th December 2020 to 31st July 2021. Households completed the study via a face-to-face interview. Interviews were conducted during periods when circumstances in individual jurisdictions permitted face-to-face interviewing according to relevant jurisdictional public health orders and restrictions.

All households selected in the sample initially received a letter in the post with instructions to arrange an appointment with an Interviewer to complete the study. Two reminder letters were sent to households.

Information collected in the study includes:

Household Information, which can be completed by any responsible adult in the household who is aged 18 years or over. The Household Information component of the study collects basic demographic information about all usual residents of the household, including those aged under 15 years, as well as information about the dwelling and household income.

Individual Questionnaire, which is completed by one randomly selected person in the household aged 16-85 years. The random selection is automatically performed upon completion of the Household Form.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First insights from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home Articles First insights from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-21 In 2020-21 the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted the first cohort of the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHW), a component of the wider Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study (IHMHS).

# data[].attributes.headline
Demand for psychological services since the pandemic

# data[].attributes.subject
Demand for psychological services since the pandemic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Intro to Psychology: Crash Course Psychology #1

# data[].attributes.body
I value hard work as it is one of the surest ways to attain goals and answers, which I think is very important in my field. I also value honesty and teamwork. Honesty is crucial in the field of psychology as working with clients can and is a very personal experience so being upfront with each other I find to be key. Teamwork is another value I find crucial, especially if I move into the research area of psychology. Asking for help and working together to meet deadlines and find answers should not be frowned upon but encouraged.

My interests go far and wide and aren't limited to psychology however, I will keep to sharing my interests that somewhat correlate with my future field. I'm interested in finding out how the mind works and why people do what they do. I also am interested in learning in general and find myself to be a lifelong learner which could be a useful passion in the research field.

# data[].attributes.body
There are currently 8,636 jobs on offer in relation to psychology on Seek, just one job search site that's on offer. This suggests that there is a great need for psychologists across the nation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Psychologist Jobs in All Australia - SEEK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find your ideal job at SEEK with 8,636 psychologist jobs found in All Australia. View all our psychologist vacancies now with new jobs added daily!

# data[].attributes.headline
What skills and qualifications do I need?

# data[].attributes.subject
What skills and qualifications do I need?

# data[].attributes.body
I will need to complete a minimum of six years of study and training in psychology (eg. a bachelor of science majoring in psychology or an honours degree). I will also need to register with the Psychology Board of Australia. These requirements are generally for clinical psychology work. As for research, it requires the same period of study however you need to complete work experience and find roles within the workforce.

# data[].attributes.body
My vision for my future is a stable job that I enjoy and want to continue for many years. I'm hoping to work in the psychology department and do research that focuses on aspects of mental health and how we can improve the lives of those suffering from it or to work in personal, one-on-one settings within a clinic where I can build a strong relationship with clients and help improve their lives with resources and proper education.

# data[].attributes.headline
Who is a thought leader in my industry that I admire?

# data[].attributes.subject
Who is a thought leader in my industry that I admire?

# data[].attributes.body
I would say Jean Piaget is someone to admire as he went quite unnoticed despite his contributions to children's cognitive development. He studied his own three children and created a theory that involved four stages, each detailing the development a child goes through in that stage.

# data[].attributes.body
My inspiration comes from my need for helping people. I myself have my own mental struggles, like most and have found that seeking out help has in turn helped me improve so I suppose my own journey and desire for other people to seek help is what pushes my in this direction everyday.

# data[].attributes.headline
Changes in psychologist waiting lists since the pandemic

# data[].attributes.subject
Changes in psychologist waiting lists since the pandemic

# data[].attributes.headline
Psychologist shortage reported in February 2022

# data[].attributes.subject
Psychologist shortage reported in February 2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Unpaid, underfunded and overworked: Psychologists on the brink

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The APS promotes psychology and its positive impact in Australia. Expert members speak on key topics via media campaigns.

# data[].attributes.body
Likes:
- Working with individuals because it works better for me compared to group therapy.
- Improving people's lives with strategies and mindfulness exercises.
- Current average wage for psychologists.
- Flexibility; I could work from home, online or in an office or do fewer days or even work weekends.

Dislikes:
- I don't like the idea of working in a more office/corporate job.
- The debt! Especially if I want to pursue higher degrees or move into an additional or different field.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Main points from the National Study of Mental Health and Well-being (ages 16-85) in Australia

# data[].attributes.body
Mental health is continuing to affect a great deal of Australians and the need for psychologists is still significant.

https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/mental-illness

# data[].attributes.body
"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." - Marie Curie

I think this quote from Marie Curie works well with who I am and what I intend to do in this world. I think that helping each other is of great importance and that improving our own lives as well as others will benefit our society greatly.

# data[].attributes.body
A successful career that I enjoy and can see myself doing for a long period of time.