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Release of National Report Card 2025: Monitoring and reporting on Australia’s mental health system
The National Report Card is Australia’s key mechanism for monitoring mental health system performance. It brings together evidence on mental health outcomes, the factors that shape wellbeing, and the services that support people experiencing mental health challenges.
Date published:
The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) has today released its National Report Card 2025, which reports on the performance of Australia’s mental health system.
The Report Card shows that mental health need remains high, and where you live impacts your ability to access services.
In 2025, psychological distress was common. Around 14.9% of people aged 15 and over experiencing high psychological distress, and 9.2% experiencing very high psychological distress.
People with a mental health condition were five times more likely to experience very high psychological distress than people without a mental health condition.
CEO of the Commission, David McGrath, said, “The Report Card shows that people experiencing mental health challenges continued to face lower life satisfaction and disproportionate experiences of loneliness, discrimination and financial stress than the broader population.”
“While there has been more investment in mental health services and more people are using available support, the benefits are not being shared equally across the community.”
“Where people live and their financial situation can still affect their ability to access the services they need, said Mr McGrath.
“We also know that workforce constraints and gaps in available data impact the system and reduce opportunities to improve the support people receive.”
Mr McGrath said mental health is shaped by more than healthcare alone.
“Financial strain, housing insecurity, discrimination, and the level of support within communities all play an important role in shaping mental health and wellbeing.”
The Report Card shows that we have an opportunity to create a mental health system that works better for everyone.
Through prevention, better services, workforce growth, and stronger data, we can create lasting improvements in mental health and wellbeing.
Mr McGrath said meaningful reform needs a clear, long-term vision for Australia’s mental health system.
“That vision must be guided by data and insights from people with lived and living experience and what they tell us about need, access and outcomes,” Mr McGrath said.
With the National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention due to expire on 1 July 2027, governments have an important opportunity to set a fresh vision for Australia’s mental health system.
“The Commission remains committed to improving how we report on the mental health system, so our National Report Card reflects emerging issues, draws on best available data and reports on the outcomes that matter to people,” Mr McGrath said.
The Commission acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live, work and learn.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
