In 2020-22, the ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing reported that 2 in 5 (42.9%) Australians had experienced a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime.

This was similar to the number of Australians who reported experiencing a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime in the 2007 study (45%). Women were more likely than men to have experienced an anxiety or affective disorder in the past 12 months, while men were much more likely to have experienced a substance use disorder. In the same period, Australians aged 16-24 were most likely to report having experienced an anxiety, affective or substance use disorder. While mental health conditions are disproportionately suffered by the unemployed, the impact on the labour force is significant and work-related stressors are a likely contributor to mental health conditions in this part of the population.

Currently, mental health conditions contribute a small but increasing proportion of work-related injuries and illnesses in Australia. In 2021-22p, mental health conditions accounted for 9% (11,700) of all serious claims and 7% of all work-related injuries and illnesses. This represented a 36.9% increase in claims since 2017-18, compared to an increase of 18.3% for all serious claims over the period. However, it is possible that destigmatisation and increased awareness of mental health conditions may have contributed to this rise in claims.