Women's Mental Health in Australia: New Findings for 2026

6 min read

Half of Australian women are living with a mental health concern, almost one in four are in severe psychological distress, and Australia now records the highest measured rate of anorexia and bulimia of any country. Released in the last week of October, these findings point the same way: women's mental health needs earlier recognition, support that fits women's lives, and more people at home and at work who know how to start the conversation.

At a glance

1 in 2 women report a mental health concern and almost 1 in 4 are in severe psychological distress, according to the Beyond the Surface 2026 survey of 9,000 women.
Help seeking rose from 57% in 2025 to 66% in 2026, but 23% of women who did not find support helpful said there were not enough services tailored to their concern.
Australia has the world's highest measured rate of anorexia and bulimia, at 1,026.5 per 100,000 people, according to a Global Burden of Disease study in JAMA Psychiatry.
The female suicide rate rose to 6.0 deaths per 100,000 in 2025, up from 5.6 in 2024, and suicide was again the leading cause of premature death for women (ABS).
Women in regional areas were 1.7 times as likely as women in cities to report suicidal thoughts or self harming behaviours.

Half of Australian women report a mental health concern

Women's Mental Health Australia released its Beyond the Surface 2026 report on 30 October. The organisation surveyed a nationally representative sample of 9,000 women aged 18 and over in April 2026, working with the University of New South Wales and the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine.

The headline figure is stark and, according to the report, persistent: about one in two women are experiencing a mental health concern, and almost one in four are dealing with severe psychological distress. The report describes the severe distress rate as steady since 2022, so this is not a passing spike.

Overall, 4% of women reported suicidal thoughts or self harming behaviours. That figure was much higher in some groups: 12% of women facing poverty or homelessness, 11% of LGBTQIA+ women, 10% of women with a disability and 9% of women aged 18 to 24. Women living outside the cities were 1.7 times as likely as metropolitan women to report these experiences, a reminder that distance and thinner services still shape outcomes.

One of the report's sharper findings concerns physical health conditions that affect women specifically. Suicidal thoughts or self harm were reported by 13% of women with endometriosis, 12% with adenomyosis and 9% with pelvic floor disorders. Long waits for diagnosis, chronic pain and being dismissed by health services can all wear down a person's mental health over time.

There is good news in the data. More women are reaching out, with help seeking rising from 57% in 2025 to 66% in 2026. Online counselling, community agencies and support groups all grew as sources of help. Still, 23% of women who did not find their support helpful said there simply were not enough services tailored to what they were going through. Chief Operating Officer Katrina Locandro said of the research: "We don't undertake it simply to describe the problem."

Why it matters: Women are asking for help in greater numbers, which means the people around them, including partners, friends, managers and colleagues, are more likely than ever to be the first to hear about it. How that first conversation goes can decide whether someone keeps seeking help or gives up. For employers, the link between conditions such as endometriosis and mental health is a practical prompt to review leave, flexibility and how managers respond when a staff member discloses a chronic health issue.

Eating disorders: Australia's rate is the highest measured

A new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study, published in JAMA Psychiatry and reported by the ABC on 29 October, found that global cases of anorexia and bulimia nervosa rose 71% between 1990 and 2023. About 18.1 million people worldwide were living with one of the two conditions in 2023, and Australia recorded the highest rate of any country, at 1,026.5 per 100,000 people.

Females make up nearly 70% of cases worldwide, and about 41% of cases are in people aged 10 to 24. The researchers project numbers will keep growing through to 2050. The study's senior author, University of Queensland epidemiologist Damian Santomauro, described Australia's ranking as "surprising and concerning" and pointed to social media and body image pressures as possible drivers among young people.

The researchers are careful about what the number means. Australian surveys use a different method from many other countries, which may account for part of the gap, and Butterfly Helpline clinical psychologist Sarah Cox noted that Australia may simply be "seeing the problem more clearly" because of stronger research. The figures also cover only anorexia and bulimia, leaving out binge eating disorder and other eating disorders, so the true burden is larger. Cox said more than 1.1 million Australians experience an eating disorder in a given year.

Why it matters: Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, and getting help early makes a real difference. Many people hide their symptoms for a long time, so families, teachers, coaches and workmates are often the ones who notice changes first. Knowing what to look for, and how to raise a concern without blame or comments about weight or appearance, is a skill that can be learned. If you are worried about someone, the Butterfly National Helpline is on 1800 33 4673.

Suicide among women: what the latest ABS figures show

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its preliminary 2025 suicide data on 27 October. Most attention went to the overall total of 3,283 deaths and the fall in the male rate. The figures for women deserve a closer look.

In 2025, 858 women died by suicide. The female age standardised rate rose to 6.0 deaths per 100,000 people, up from 5.6 in 2024. Women aged 55 to 59 had the highest age specific rate, at 9.0 deaths per 100,000, and women aged 40 to 44 accounted for the largest share of female suicide deaths, at 9.6%. Suicide was the leading cause of premature mortality for women, with 30,145 years of life lost. The ABS notes these figures are preliminary and can rise as coronial cases are finalised.

Why it matters: Public conversation about suicide often focuses, rightly, on men, who account for nearly three quarters of deaths. But the rising female rate and the concentration among women in midlife show that suicide prevention needs to reach women in their 40s and 50s too: women juggling work, caring for children and ageing parents, menopause, relationship breakdown or financial strain. Asking directly and calmly about suicide does not put the idea in someone's head; it opens the door to help.

Women's mental health: what it means for you

Taken together, these reports describe a large group of women who are struggling, are increasingly willing to ask for help, and too often do not find support that fits. Closing that gap is not only a job for health services. It also depends on how well ordinary people respond.

Two women colleagues having a supportive conversation about mental health in a bright Australian office

For individuals and families: Check in with the women in your life, especially if you notice withdrawal, changes in eating or sleep, ongoing exhaustion, or talk of feeling hopeless. Listen without judgement and help them take the next step, whether that is a GP, a counsellor or a helpline. If you are struggling yourself, reaching out is a sign of strength, and you can speak with a counsellor through FME's counselling service.

For managers: You do not need to be a clinician, but you do need to know how to notice, ask and refer. Be alert to the impact of chronic health conditions, caring loads and menopause on wellbeing, and make it safe for staff to talk about flexibility. Standard Mental Health First Aid gives managers a practical action plan for these conversations, including how to ask about suicide.

For organisations: Under WHS law, employers must manage psychosocial hazards such as high job demands, low support and poor workplace relationships. Look at whether your policies on leave, flexibility and return to work reflect the realities in this data. Our psychosocial hazards consultancy can help you assess risks and build a plan, and our workplace mental health training builds capability across your teams. For workplaces and community groups supporting young women, Youth Mental Health First Aid covers eating disorders, anxiety, depression and suicidal crises in adolescents.

Talk to FME

Focused Mental Education delivers accredited Mental Health First Aid training, psychosocial hazards consultancy, counselling and NDIS supports across Australia. To book training or talk through what your organisation needs, call (02) 8044 3365, email info@fme.com.au or visit our educational courses page. You can find more articles in the Knowledge Hub.

If you need support now: call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 for eating disorders and body image concerns. In an emergency, call 000.