If you know five people, at least one is likely living with a mental health condition. More than 8.5 million Australians will need treatment for depression, anxiety, substance use, or psychosis at some point in their lives.
Early deaths among people with mental illness
People aged 15–74 who receive treatment for mental illness make up just over 22% of the population. Yet, they account for almost half (49.3%) of all premature deaths. Most of these deaths are from preventable physical health conditions.
Life expectancy trends
Over the past 30 years, life expectancy in Australia has increased by five to six years due to better health care, reduced smoking, and early detection of diseases like cancer and heart disease. However, people with mental illness have not seen these improvements, widening the life expectancy gap.
Impact of different mental illnesses
People with serious mental illnesses such as psychosis die on average 14 years earlier than the general population. Those with more common conditions, like depression and anxiety, die 9–13 years earlier.
Causes of premature death
Contrary to popular belief, suicide accounts for only 1.6% of deaths in this group. The leading causes are preventable physical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. A 2024 study found people with mental illness are two to six times more likely to die prematurely from chronic diseases than others.
Examples of preventable deaths
For instance, people with mental illness are five to six times more likely to die from breast or prostate cancer and four times more likely to die from diabetes. Overall, this leads to 16,658 preventable deaths each year.
Why this happens
Many factors contribute to this disparity. People with mental illness often face discrimination, barriers to care, and side effects from medications. Symptoms of mental illness can also overshadow physical health concerns, a problem called diagnostic overshadowing. This can lead to serious health issues being missed or untreated.
Access to preventative care is often limited. People with mental illness are less likely to be vaccinated, screened, or treated for conditions like cancer and heart disease. Social isolation, regional living, and economic disadvantage can worsen these challenges. Medications, such as antipsychotics, may increase the risk of obesity and other long-term health problems.
Steps to improve outcomes
Health care is a human right. To reduce preventable deaths, people with mental illness must receive the same quality of care as others. This includes educating health-care workers, integrating GPs with mental health teams, and involving people with mental illness in policy and service design.
National programs for vaccination, smoking cessation, and cancer screening targeted at this population are essential. Regular monitoring can track progress and help close the life expectancy gap.
How friends, family, and carers can help
Support can be simple. Ask when a person last had a physical health check-up, whether they have accessed screenings or vaccinations, and help them attend appointments. Small actions can save lives.
Related topics
