The state of multicultural mental health in Australia

This report provides a comprehensive national overview of mental health among Australia's culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities. With 31.5% of Australians born overseas and over half having at least one parent born overseas, the report argues that culturally responsive mental health care is essential to achieving equitable health outcomes.

The report finds that many multicultural Australians experience significant barriers to accessing mental health care, including language differences, cultural stigma, discrimination, limited mental health literacy, financial pressures, and difficulty navigating Australia's health system. As a result, overseas-born Australians are more likely to delay seeking treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, often waiting more than a decade before receiving support.

The report finds that improving multicultural mental health in Australia requires reducing inequities, improving early intervention and ensuring that mental health services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to Australia's diverse population. Rather than recommending one-size-fits-all solutions, the report highlights the need for culturally safe, community-led and trauma-informed services. It identifies successful approaches such as multilingual resources, partnerships with multicultural organisations, culturally adapted therapies, interpreter services, and a more diverse mental health workforce. It also emphasises the importance of involving multicultural communities in the design and delivery of services. This requires coordinated action across governments, healthcare providers and community organisations.

The report concludes with recommendations to guide national and state policymakers, officials responsible for funding and implementing mental health policies, and organisations that deliver mental health programs and services.