Australia’s mental health is at a crossroads. Almost half of all adults will experience a mental disorder at some point in their lives, and in any given year, more than one in five are living with one. Among young adults aged 16 to 24, that figure climbs to nearly 40% – the highest on record. Despite growing awareness and investment, demand for mental health support continues to rise, and many people still struggle to access the care they need when they need it.
It’s a reminder that mental health is not just a personal issue – it’s a public one, with deep implications for families, workplaces and communities. And to change the trajectory, we need better evidence about what drives mental wellbeing across life – and across generations.
Understanding mental health as a lifelong journey
This is where the 18 and Up Study comes in. Building on the Sax Institute’s long-running 45 and Up Study, this landmark national project will be launched in 2026. It will follow Australians from early adulthood onwards, creating one of the most comprehensive pictures of mental health and wellbeing ever assembled.
Rather than focusing only on symptoms or treatment, the study explores the bigger picture – how housing, relationships, financial security, education, and physical health all interact to shape our mental health over time.
“Understanding mental health as a lifelong journey means looking at the full context of people’s lives – not just what happens in moments of crisis,” says Dr Martin McNamara, 18 and Up Chief Investigator and CEO of the Sax Institute. “That’s what 18 and Up will help us do.”
Data that shapes smarter decisions
While mental illness affects millions, data about its causes and consequences remains fragmented. The 18 and Up Study will fill this critical gap by bringing together information across life stages – and across generations – to understand how experiences throughout life, as well as major social and environmental changes, shape mental health and wellbeing.
This depth of insight will help at both a national level and within communities to make smarter, fairer decisions – not only about where to target prevention or how to support people during key life transitions, but also about how experiences at any stage of life, and wider social and environmental changes, shape mental health and wellbeing. These insights will guide new approaches to how we organise our communities and provide support for better mental health across Australia.
Building a foundation for future generations
As we mark Mental Health Month, it’s a moment to look forward. The 18 and Up Study is designed not only to describe the state of mental health in Australia today, but to anticipate and track the challenges of tomorrow – helping us create a stronger, more resilient foundation for future generations.
“We need to move beyond data that describes a problem at a point in time, to understanding the course of young people’s lives and the drivers of poor mental health and the approaches, support and change that is needed to improve mental health across generations,” says Dr McNamara. “By following people over time, 18 and Up will help us understand what is driving mental health outcomes across the population as well as insights into how and where change can really work and make a difference to future generations.”
Learn more about how the 18 and Up Study will help shape Australia’s mental health future.
