Census will address mental illness

THIS year’s census will be the first to ask Aussies if they’ve ever been diagnosed with mental illnesses including depression and anxiety – and mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry is predicting an “astonishing” response.

“We’ve had national mental health surveys in the past, but we haven’t had one for about 15 years,” he said. “But this is actually finding out the full extent of mental ill health in the population and I think it’s going to be quite staggering, the number.”

Prof McGorry said a significant response could see mental health bumped up the policy agenda.

“Cancer takes up about 30 per cent of the health budget, but it’s only about 18 per cent of the health burden. Mental illness takes up about 7 per cent of the health budget, and it’s at least 15 to 20 per cent of the burden, so it’s seriously underfunded,” he said.

The compulsory question will ask respondents to tick a box if they’ve ever been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

If a lot of people tick the mental health box it could prompt additional surveys, or a more detailed question in the 2026 census, Prof McGorry said.

He said the census results “won’t let us know the severity of the problem, but it’s certainly good to get a snapshot of the extent”.

Census night is August 10.