The disparity between changes in the prevalence of mental illness and disability support rates in Australia

Clarifying the type of support needed by people with a psychiatric disability must be a priority

One major focus of Australia’s national mental health strategy has been to increase access to treatment for those with common mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depressive disorders. Despite indications that treatment rates have increased in Australia,1 there is little evidence that the population prevalence of these disorders has declined, a phenomenon also reported in other high income countries where increased treatment has been made available.2