Community
17 October, 2024
Don’t wait ten years
PEOPLE are grappling with high levels of distress and emerging mental health issues for up to 10 years before reaching out for support, a major Beyond Blue survey has found.
Researchers asked more than 5000 people around the country about the common causes of distress they’ve experienced in the past year and how they have supported their mental health.
Almost half (49 per cent) of those who sought professional mental health support said they had waited until they were “very distressed” or “extremely distressed” before they reached out, compared to 30 per cent who were moderately distressed.
The report also found nearly half of all respondents (46 per cent) named financial pressure as a key factor in their distress. Housing affordability and personal relationship challenges were also listed by 34 per cent of respondents.
The 2024 Mental Health and Wellbeing Check, by Australian National University’s Social Research Centre on behalf of Beyond Blue, is a representative survey on the current state of mental health and wellbeing in Australia.
Top barriers causing delays to seeking help included long waitlists, treatment costs and people thinking their problem wasn’t serious enough. Shame was also getting worse, with 22 per cent of people attributing this as the reason for delaying treatment, up from 13 per cent two years ago.
“The main reasons people don’t seek support are well known – it can be expensive, and the waitlists are long,” Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said. “What’s important about this survey is that it’s telling us mental health literacy and increasing feelings of shame are barriers too.”
The release of key survey findings coincides with the start of World Mental Health Month. This is the second Australia’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Check undertaken since it started in 2022, when cost of living pressures began to climb.
“We want people to know that you don’t need to be struggling for years … you don’t have to be at crisis point to benefit from support,” Ms Harman said.
“Feeling constantly overwhelmed or worried, prolonged feelings of being flat or stuck, or having trouble sleeping are some of the signs you need to look out for.
“Our message this World Mental Health Month is that when it comes to your mental health, don’t wait until things really get on top of you.”
Beyond Blue offers free, 24/7 support right around Australia. The support service offers support by phone, webchat and email, and through online community forums.
