- The 2026 National Stigma and Discrimination Report Card is being launched by The Hon Emma McBride MP at the Dining Rooms of Australian Parliament House TODAY.
- The Report Card has been developed by the National Mental Health Commission and SANE Australia.
- It found 70% of people with mental illness have experienced discrimination.
- Increased awareness of mental health has not translated into better community attitudes, reinforcing exclusion, inequity and poorer health outcomes.
- Workplaces identified as a major source of discrimination, while stigma in personal relationships and from medical providers was also widespread.
- Discrimination when accessing housing and welfare had some of the most severe consequences, with 78% of those affected reporting serious housing and financial insecurity as a result.
- The report establishes a baseline for measuring future progress, with the next Report Card planned for 2028, and calls for sustained, coordinated action across governments, workplaces, services and communities.
Despite increased awareness, negative public attitudes and behaviours continue to have a profound impact on the lives of people experiencing mental health challenges.
The 2026 National Stigma and Discrimination Report Card, released today by the National Mental Health Commission in partnership with SANE Australia and the University of Melbourne, provides the most comprehensive picture to date of mental health stigma and discrimination.
SANE Australia CEO Rachel Green said the results highlight a critical gap between awareness and action.
‘Despite improved awareness of mental health, stigma and discrimination remain deeply embedded in our society,’ Ms Green said.
‘This report card shows that while attitudes may be shifting, people’s real world experiences are not improving and, in many cases, they are getting worse.’
Drawing on a nationally representative survey of more than 6,000 people, the report card reveals that 70% of people with mental health challenges have experienced discrimination and 68% said dealing with stigma and discrimination was worse than dealing with their mental health condition.
The report identifies workplaces as a major source of discrimination. Forty three per cent of people said employers did not understand the impact of their mental health condition, 36% said they were denied opportunities, and 33% reported their workplace was not supportive.
Stigma in personal relationships was also widespread, with many people experiencing judgement, lack of understanding and social withdrawal from family, friends and partners. Concerningly, many reported discrimination from medical providers when seeking clinical care for both mental and physical health.
Whilst not as prevalent, discrimination experienced when accessing housing and welfare had one of the most significant impacts, with 78% of people reporting negative consequences such as serious housing and financial insecurity from these experiences.
Whilst many people reported incidents of respectful or supportive interactions, these positive experiences have not kept pace with rising discrimination or translated into better day to day experiences. Those living with conditions such as schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder are experiencing significantly worse discrimination overall.
National Mental Health Commission CEO David McGrath said the report reinforces the Commission’s central role in monitoring, reporting and driving accountability and improvement across the mental health system.
‘Stigma and discrimination remain a significant burden for people living with mental health challenges, limiting help seeking, reducing social connection, and restricting the ability to lead a full and contributing life.’
‘This Report Card shines a light on these issues, providing an essential evidence base to identify where progress has been made and where challenges remain.’
Ms Green said the findings should be a call to action across all sectors.
‘Stigma limits access to fundamental aspects of life such as a secure home, meaningful work, social connection and supportive relationships for millions of people in Australia. ‘
‘Reducing stigma requires sustained, coordinated effort across governments, workplaces, services and communities.’
‘Together, we can create a future where everyone is treated with dignity, understanding and respect.’
The 2026 National Stigma and Discrimination Report Card establishes a critical baseline for measuring progress which can inform future reforms aimed at reducing stigma, improving inclusion, and supporting recovery for people across Australia. The next Report Card is planned for 2028.
The report can be downloaded from Stigma and discrimination reduction | National Mental Health Commission
About us:
SANE represents and supports Australians living with long term or complex mental health needs, as well as their families, carers and kin. Learn more at sane.org
Contact details:
Interviews are available with David McGrath, CEO National Mental Health Commission. Please contact [email protected] or 02 6289 7400.
Interviews are also available with Rachel Green, University of Melbourne researchers and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. Contact Gayle McNaught on [email protected] or 0407 958 920