Seven in 10 people with mental illness face discrimination, first national report card finds
A new national report finds rising mental health awareness in Australia hasn’t translated into better treatment, with 70% of people with mental health challenges reporting discrimination across workplaces, relationships, and health services.
Australia’s first National Stigma and Discrimination Report Card found that 70% of people with mental health challenges have experienced discrimination in at least one area of their life. More than two-thirds, 68%, said dealing with stigma and discrimination was worse than dealing with the condition itself.
The National Mental Health Commission released the Report Card on 1 July 2026, in partnership with SANE Australia and the University of Melbourne. Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride launched it at Parliament House.
It draws on the 2024-25 National Survey of Stigma and Discrimination, which surveyed 6,032 people aged 18 and over across Australia. Of those, 2,613 reported a mental health problem or scored high for psychological distress and were asked about their experiences over the previous 12 months, across settings including family, friends, workplaces and health services.
The gap between awareness and action
The central finding is that more awareness of mental health has not changed how people are treated day to day.
SANE Australia CEO Rachel Green said the results show a gap between awareness and action.
“Despite improved awareness of mental health, stigma and discrimination remain deeply embedded in our society,” Ms Green said.
“This report card shows that while attitudes may be shifting, people’s real world experiences are not improving and, in many cases, they are getting worse.”
Commission CEO David McGrath put the headline figure plainly.
“The really confronting finding is that around 70% of people experienced discrimination in at least one area of life. For some people, it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse. That tells us this is still a very real, very widespread issue,” Mr McGrath said.
The workplace is a main source
Work came up as one of the biggest problems in the survey.
- 43% said their employer did not understand the impact of their mental health condition
- 36% said they were denied opportunities
- 33% said their workplace was not supportive
Stigma in personal relationships was also common, with people reporting judgement, a lack of understanding, and social withdrawal from family, friends and partners. Many also reported discrimination from medical providers when they sought care for both mental and physical health.
Housing and welfare hit hardest
Discrimination when accessing housing and welfare was less common than in other settings, but it did the most damage when it happened. Among people who experienced it, 78% reported serious consequences such as housing and financial insecurity.
The survey also found the burden is not shared evenly. People living with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder reported significantly worse discrimination overall.
What the Commission wants to happen
Mr McGrath said stigma limits help-seeking, reduces social connection, and restricts people’s ability to lead a full life. He described the Report Card as the evidence base for holding the system to account.
“Stigma won’t disappear on its own, it requires sustained, coordinated effort. That means action across governments, workplaces, services and communities,” he said.
“The Commission’s role is to keep tracking progress and holding the system to account. Reducing stigma is not optional, it’s essential to improving people’s lives.”
Ms Green said the findings should push every sector to act.
“Stigma limits access to fundamental aspects of life such as a secure home, meaningful work, social connection and supportive relationships for millions of people in Australia,” she said.
“Together, we can create a future where everyone is treated with dignity, understanding and respect.”
Why this one matters
This is the first Report Card of its kind, so it sets a baseline. Future editions can measure whether stigma and discrimination are actually falling, rather than relying on awareness campaigns as a proxy. The next Report Card is planned for 2028.
It also sits alongside the Commission’s broader National Report Card, which in 2024 found major gaps in how Australia reports on the performance of its mental health system.
Read the full report: 2026 National Stigma and Discrimination Report Card