The challenge
Who we help.
Children’s mental health is treated when they reach their lowest point. The numbers show why that has to change.
The challenge in numbers
4 in 10young Australians aged 16-24 experienced a mental disorder.Almost four in ten, in a single year.
+49%rise in mental disorder among 16-24 year-olds since 2007From 26% in 2007 to 38.8% in 2020-22
$18 to $1spent on treatment for every dollar on prevention.In Australia we spend $9.2bn in curing mental disorders and only $0.5bn in prevention. This is where the opportunity lies.
15-19 year olds experience the highest rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisation of any age group.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-24.
Who it affects
The burden falls heaviest on those with the least.
Rates of intentional self-harm are higher among young people in lower socioeconomic communities and 3x higher among First Nations people.
RemoteThe highest rate of intentional self-harm is among those living in very remote Australia
3xHospitalisation rates of First Nations people for intentional self-harm is 3x higher than non-indigenous Australians
1.4xYoung people in the lowest socioeconomic areas are hospitalised for self-harm at 1.4x the rate of those in the highest
Prevention has a huge multiplier.
The cost of one night in hospital is the equivalent of 92 children experiencing 10 weeks of Mighty Me™.
Sources for these figures
- 4 in 10 (38.8%) of 16-24 year-olds had a mental disorder in the past 12 monthsABS, National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-22
- 26% of 16-24 year-olds in 2007ABS, National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007
- The rise among young people since 2007, measured the same way in both surveysBirrell et al., Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 2026
- $9.2bn a year on treatment and $0.5bn on prevention (2018-19)Productivity Commission, Mental Health Inquiry Report, 2020
- 15-19 year olds have the highest rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisation; suicide is the leading cause of death for 15-24 year oldsAIHW, Suicide & self-harm monitoring: Young people
- The highest rates of intentional self-harm are in very remote AustraliaAIHW, Suicide & self-harm monitoring: Regional and remote communities
- First Nations hospitalisation rates for intentional self-harm are over 3x higherAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework: Mental health and social and emotional wellbeing
- Self-harm hospitalisation 1.4x higher in the lowest socioeconomic areas than the highestAIHW, Australia's youth: Mental illness
Help build the resilient one
Prevention has a huge multiplier. Tell us how you’d like to be involved and Sana will be in touch personally.