DATA PROFILE – Mental health 

Mental health in Tasmania 

Mental health affects how we think, feel, behave and interact with others – and just like physical health, it varies over time and across our lives. But while many people will experience a mental health condition at some point, stigma and lack of access can make it hard to ask for help. 

Here’s a snapshot of mental health in Tasmania, and the services and support available.  

Data in this article has been taken from Primary Health Tasmania’s needs assessment report, available on our website here. 

What is mental illness? 

Mental illnesses are diagnosed using standard criteria and can include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other conditions.  

Undiagnosed mental illness, while often less severe, can still affect day-to-day functioning and wellbeing. 

Mental illness is not a sign of personal weakness. Like any health condition, it can affect anyone – and recovery is possible with the right support. 

How many people are affected? 

About one in five Tasmanians experience a mental health condition in any year. 

In 2020–22, around 19.8% of Tasmanians (88,700 people) reported a mental health condition in the previous 12 months. Most of these people were experiencing mild symptoms, often managed through primary care. 

Between 2009 and 2022, the proportion of Tasmanians diagnosed with anxiety or depression increased from 21% to 37%. 

Mental health and physical health 

People living with mental illness are more likely to have physical health issues like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and arthritis as their physical health needs are often overshadowed by their mental illness. 

Compared with the general population, Tasmanians with mental illness are: 

• more than twice as likely to have asthma (19% vs 8%) or arthritis (19% vs 8%) 

• almost twice as likely to have diabetes (9% vs 5%) 

• more likely to have heart/stroke/vascular disease (7% vs 4%). 

People with severe and enduring mental illness have a shorter life expectancy of 12–16 years less than the general population, often due to preventable physical health conditions going untreated. Visit the Equally Well website for more information about this.

Suicide in Tasmania 

Data indicates that Tasmanians die by suicide at a rate higher than the national average, with suicide being a leading cause of death among Tasmanians aged 25-44. 

While suicide is complex and not always linked to mental illness, 64% of people who died by suicide in Tasmania between 2012 and 2018 had a prior diagnosis of mental illness. Other risk factors contributing to suicidal distress can include things like financial, legal and relationship difficulties. 

Mental health support – especially during times of crisis – is vital in suicide prevention. 

Managing mental health 

Support for mental health comes in many forms, from self-care and peer support to services provided by mental health clinicians such as psychologists and psychiatrists. 

GPs continue to play the largest role in providing mental health care in Tasmania, with clinical psychologists also delivering many services in the community. In 2022–23, more than 53,000 Tasmanians received Medicare-subsidised mental health-specific services, including from GPs, psychiatrists and other providers. 

Primary Health Tasmania commissions free mental health services across the state to support people at various levels of need – from people with or at risk of mild mental illness through to people with complex and severe mental illness.  

More information and support 

A range of mental health support is available in Tasmania through government, private and community service providers. Some are free and some have a cost. 

If you’re not sure where to start, talk to your GP or call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212.  

GPs can call the Central Intake and Referral Service on 1800 595 212, or make an eReferral.  

If you need immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. 

Information about the free mental health services commissioned by Primary Health Tasmania is available at services.primaryhealthtas.com.au.  

Click here to learn more about mental health.   

References available on request.