THE latest tranche of the Mental Health Online Report highlights that one in five adults and one in seven young people experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months.
Of interest to pharmacists, 4.7 million people or 18% of Australians, filled a mental health-related medication prescription in 2021-22.
There were 44.4 million prescriptions dispensed for mental health-related medications (both subsidised and under co-payment) around the nation.
The majority of prescriptions in Australia were made by GPs (85%) and antidepressants (74%) were the most common mental health-related prescriptions dispensed, the report has uncovered.
A huge $11.6 billion was spent on mental health services in 2020-21, which amounts to around 7% of the total govt expenditure, according to the report.
In NSW alone, 1.37 million people were dispensed at least one mental health-related medication in the past year.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Oct 23
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