All figures below are drawn from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Mission Australia’s national Youth Survey, with sources linked. Figures refer to the survey periods noted, which are the most recent national data available.
Anyone working with, parenting or teaching young people in Australia will have sensed that mental health pressure on this generation is high. The national data confirms it. This article sets out the key numbers in one place, and, importantly, where young people and families can turn for support.
How common are mental health challenges for young Australians?
- 39% of Australians aged 16 to 24 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months, according to the ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2020 to 2022), as reported by the AIHW. For young women the figure was 46%; for young men, 32%.
- Anxiety disorders are the most common condition, affecting 32% of 16 to 24 year olds (40% of young women, 24% of young men). Affective disorders such as depression affected 14%.
- 26% of young people reported high or very high psychological distress (34% of young women, 18% of young men).
- In the Australian Burden of Disease Study (2024), mental and behavioural conditions contributed the greatest disease burden for ages 15 to 24. For young women, anxiety disorders were the single leading cause of burden; for young men, it was suicide and self-inflicted injuries.
Source: AIHW, Health of Young People.
What young people themselves say
Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2025, one of the country’s largest annual surveys of young people with more than 17,000 respondents aged 14 to 19, found:
- Cost of living was the top national concern (64%), followed by mental health (29%), climate change and the environment (27%), and housing and homelessness (25%).
- School or study problems were the most commonly reported source of personal stress in the past year.
- 39% reported stress related to their mental health and wellbeing, and 19% scored in the high psychological distress range.
- Encouragingly, 75% said they had someone to turn to when unsure about important decisions.
Source: Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025.
Are young people getting help?
Service use is rising, and young people are now the biggest users of Medicare-subsidised mental health services relative to population. In 2024-25, people aged 12 to 24 made up 21% of all recipients of these services (around 576,000 people). Young women aged 18 to 24 had the highest treatment rate of any group: 192 patients per 1,000 population, roughly double the rate for young men the same age (AIHW). That gap matters: it suggests many young men experiencing distress are not reaching services.
What helps, and where to find it in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
The consistent message from national data is that most young people who struggle do recover, particularly when support arrives early and when the people around them (family, school, community) stay connected. Practical first steps for families:
- Start with a conversation, not a diagnosis. Naming what you have noticed (changes in sleep, mood, friendships, school engagement) and asking how you can help is an evidence-aligned first move.
- See a GP early. GPs can assess, support and create a mental health treatment plan for subsidised psychological sessions.
- Use local youth services. The WAYS Wellness Centre in North Bondi supports young people aged 12 to 24 across counselling, case management, family support, drug and alcohol support and psychology. No GP referral is required; young people and families can refer directly. Visit the Wellness Centre page or call 02 9365 2500.
If a young person is in immediate danger, call 000. For 24/7 crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Health of young people (reporting ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-22, Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024, and Medicare mental health service data 2024-25). aihw.gov.au
- Mission Australia (2025). Youth Survey 2025: national report. missionaustralia.com.au
Need support? The WAYS Wellness Centre offers free counselling and support for young people aged 12 to 24 in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
