Anxiety Disorders in Australia: Signs, Impact and How to Help
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia, and one of the most treatable. More than one in six Australians aged 16 to 85 had an anxiety disorder in the past year, and anxiety disorders now sit among the five diseases causing the most health burden in the country. Yet many people never get help, often because the signs are mistaken for stress, personality or "just how I am". Knowing what anxiety looks like, and how to respond when someone is struggling, makes a real difference at home, at work and in the community.
At a glance
17.2% of Australians aged 16 to 85 had an anxiety disorder in the 12 months before they were surveyed, making it the most common type of mental disorder (ABS, 2020 to 2022).
That is about 3.3 million people, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
About 7% of children and adolescents aged 4 to 17, or roughly 293,000 young people, have an anxiety disorder (AIHW).
Anxiety disorders were among the top five diseases causing burden in Australia in 2024 and caused 3.9% of the country's total disease burden (AIHW).
The burden from anxiety disorders rose 34% between 2003 and 2024.
Fewer than half of people with a mental disorder in the past year (45.1%) saw a health professional about it.
Anxiety disorders in Australia: how common are they?
Everyone feels anxious from time to time. A job interview, a medical test or a difficult conversation can bring on a racing heart and a knot in the stomach, and that response usually passes once the moment does. An anxiety disorder is different. The worry is stronger, lasts longer and starts to shape how a person lives: what they avoid, how they sleep, whether they can concentrate at work or school.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, run between 2020 and 2022, found that one in five Australians (21.5%) experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months. Anxiety was the most common group by a wide margin, affecting 17.2% of people aged 16 to 85. Young adults were hit hardest overall: 38.8% of 16 to 24 year olds had a mental disorder in the past year, including almost half of young women in that age group (45.5%).
The AIHW's latest Australian Burden of Disease Study puts that in a broader health context. In 2024, coronary heart disease, dementia, back pain, anxiety disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the top five diseases causing burden. Within mental and substance use disorders, anxiety caused the most burden for both females and males, and that burden has grown by around a third since 2003.
Why it matters: Anxiety is not a niche issue. In a workplace of 30 people, statistics suggest around five may have lived with an anxiety disorder in the past year. Treating it as a mainstream health issue, like back pain or heart health, helps people speak up earlier.
What anxiety can look like
Anxiety does not always look like panic. Often it is quieter and easier to miss. Beyond Blue describes common signs including:
Thoughts and feelings: feeling very worried or anxious most of the time, being unable to control anxious thoughts, difficulty concentrating or the mind going blank.
Physical signs: tiring easily, muscle tension and disturbed sleep.
Behaviour: finding it hard to calm down, and often avoiding situations, places or people that trigger the worry.
There are several types of anxiety disorder, including generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety also commonly occurs alongside depression and alcohol or other drug use, which can make it harder to recognise.
In practice, a colleague with anxiety might start declining meetings or presentations, check and recheck their work, call in sick before stressful deadlines, or seem irritable and exhausted. A teenager might complain of stomach aches before school. An older parent might stop driving or going out. None of these on their own means someone has an anxiety disorder, but a pattern that lasts weeks and gets in the way of daily life is worth a gentle conversation.
Why it matters: People with anxiety are often very good at hiding it. Knowing the quieter signs helps families, friends and managers notice change before it becomes a crisis.
The cost of leaving anxiety unaddressed
Untreated anxiety tends to shrink a person's world. Avoidance brings short term relief, but over time it can mean turning down promotions, leaving study, withdrawing from friends or relying on alcohol to cope. Sleep problems and constant tension take a physical toll, and anxiety raises the risk of developing depression.
The ripple effect is wide. Partners and children often adjust their own lives around a loved one's avoidance. In workplaces, anxiety shows up as presenteeism (being at work but struggling to function), absence and turnover. Across the health system, the steady rise in burden recorded by the AIHW reflects years of people living with symptoms that are highly treatable.
The ABS study also found that fewer than half of people with a mental disorder in the past year (45.1%) consulted a health professional about their mental health. Stigma, cost, not knowing where to go, and not recognising the problem all play a part.
Why it matters: Anxiety responds well to support, particularly psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy. The earlier someone gets help, the less ground they lose.
Anxiety at work: psychosocial hazards and early support
Work can be a protective factor for mental health, providing purpose, routine and connection. It can also be a source of harm. High job demands, low control, poor support, unclear roles, bullying, harassment and poor organisational change management are all recognised psychosocial hazards under work health and safety law. In NSW, the Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work sets out how businesses should identify, assess and control these risks, just as they would physical hazards.
For people already living with anxiety, a workplace that runs on constant urgency, unpredictable workloads or a culture of public criticism can make symptoms much worse. Equally, small, practical adjustments can keep someone well and at work: predictable schedules, clear expectations, flexibility for appointments, and a manager who checks in without judgement.
We covered the latest rise in psychological injury claims in our October 2026 mental health news update.
Why it matters: Managing psychosocial hazards is a legal duty, and it is also one of the most effective ways to prevent anxiety from developing or worsening at work. FME's psychosocial hazards consultancy helps organisations assess risks and build practical controls.
How to help someone who is anxious
You do not need to be a clinician to make a difference. Mental Health First Aid teaches a simple, evidence based approach that anyone can use:
Notice and approach. Choose a private, calm moment. Say what you have noticed without labelling: "You've seemed really on edge lately. How are you going?
Listen without judgement. Let them talk. Avoid telling them to "just relax" or "stop worrying", which can make people feel dismissed.
Give support and information. Reassure them that anxiety is common and treatable. Offer practical help, such as finding a GP or sitting with them while they make a call.
Encourage professional help. A GP is a good first step and can discuss options including a Mental Health Treatment Plan for Medicare subsidised psychology sessions. The free Medicare Mental Health phone service (1800 595 212, business hours) can also help connect people to local care.
Encourage other supports. Regular exercise, sleep, limiting alcohol and staying connected with others all help, alongside professional treatment.
If someone is having a panic attack, stay with them, speak slowly and calmly, and encourage slow breathing. If you are unsure whether it is a panic attack or a physical emergency such as a heart attack, call 000.
Why it matters: The first conversation is often the hardest step. Someone who feels heard is far more likely to seek help.
What it means for you
For individuals and families: If worry is getting in the way of sleep, work, study or relationships for more than a few weeks, talk to your GP. Anxiety is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. If you are supporting a young person, the Youth Mental Health First Aid course gives parents and carers practical skills.
For managers and team leaders: Watch for changes in behaviour, not just performance. Check in privately, listen, and talk about reasonable adjustments. Know where to point people, including your Employee Assistance Program and their GP. Training such as Standard Mental Health First Aid gives you the confidence to have that conversation well.
For organisations: Treat psychosocial hazards like any other WHS risk. Review workloads, role clarity and how change is managed, and build a culture where people can say "I'm not coping" safely. FME's workplace mental health training and consultancy can help you meet your obligations and support your people.
How FME can help
Focused Mental Education delivers accredited Mental Health First Aid training Australia wide, including Standard, Youth and Older Person courses, plus psychosocial hazards consultancy, counselling and NDIS supports. Explore our courses, call us on (02) 8044 3365 or email info@fme.com.au.
Where to get support
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can call 13YARN on 13 92 76. If life is in danger, call 000.
Sources
Australian Bureau of Statistics, "Two in five Australians have experienced a mental disorder", media release, 5 October 2023. abs.gov.au
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, "Prevalence and impact of mental illness", Mental health, updated March 2023. aihw.gov.au
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, "Burden of disease", Mental health snapshot (Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024), accessed 4 November 2026. aihw.gov.au
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, "Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024", accessed 4 November 2026. aihw.gov.au
Beyond Blue, "Anxiety", accessed 4 November 2026. beyondblue.org.au
Healthdirect Australia, "Medicare Mental Health", accessed 4 November 2026. about.healthdirect.gov.au
SafeWork NSW, "Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work", accessed 4 November 2026. safework.nsw.gov.au
