The National Mental Health Commission, in partnership with SANE Australia, has released the Commission’s first National Stigma and Discrimination Report Card.
The Report Card was launched by the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Hon Emma McBride on July 1, 2026. It shows where progress has been made in reducing stigma and discrimination in Australia. It also shows where more work is needed.
Commission CEO, David McGrath, said stigma and discrimination around mental health continue to have a serious impact on people with challenges.
“The really confronting finding is that around 70 per cent of people experienced discrimination in at least one area of life,” he said.“For some people, it’s not getting better – it’s getting worse.
That tells us this is still a very real, very widespread issue.”
The Report Card uses world-first nationally representative data collected by the University of Melbourne through the 2024–25 National Survey of Stigma and Discrimination.
It provides a national picture of how people with mental health challenges are perceived and treated in Australia. It also helps track change over time. “Stigma won’t disappear on its own, it requires sustained, coordinated effort,” Mr McGrath said.
“We need inclusive environments and practical initiatives that reduce prejudice.
The Commission has committed to building its reporting framework. This includes to build a strong, data-driven evidence base that provides a complete picture of how the system is performing.
