More young Australian women are turning to therapy, and that is a good thing
New health data released this year shows something worth sitting with. More Australian women in their twenties and thirties are booking mental health appointments than at any point in the last decade. That is not evidence that something has broken. It is evidence that more people finally feel able to ask for help before things get much harder to manage.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare tracks how many people use Medicare subsidised mental health services each year (AIHW, 2026). Between 2015 and 2025, the rate for women aged 25 to 34 rose by 26 per cent, reaching 188 people per 1,000 in the population. Use peaked even higher during the pandemic years and has settled into a new, higher baseline since. Mental health conditions have also become more common among younger Australians in general, rising from 26 per cent to 39 per cent of 16 to 24 year olds between 2007 and 2020 to 2022 (AIHW, 2026).
Mental health conditions and substance use are now the second largest driver of disease burden in Australia, sitting just behind cancer (AIHW, 2026). That is a big shift from a decade ago, and it says a lot about how central mental health has become to how we think about our overall wellbeing.
Why this age group, and why now
Your late twenties and early thirties tend to stack a lot of pressure into a fairly short window. Career decisions start to feel permanent. Relationships shift, end, or move toward bigger commitments. Some people are starting families, others are actively deciding not to, and both choices come with their own kind of weight. Cost of living pressure sits underneath most of it, quietly making everything else feel harder to manage.
None of that guarantees a mental health condition will develop. But it does help explain why anxiety, low mood, and burnout show up so often in this particular age bracket.
Social awareness plays a role too. Mental health is talked about far more openly than it was ten years ago, and that openness makes it easier to notice when something is not quite right, and easier to say so out loud.
More people seeking help is a good sign, not a bad one
It is tempting to read rising numbers as a crisis unfolding in real time. A more accurate read is that stigma is genuinely easing. People who might once have pushed through in silence are now speaking to a GP, a psychologist, or a trusted person in their life instead. Recognising that you need support and actually acting on it is a skill, not a weakness, and it tends to get easier with practice.
What is still getting in the way
Cost remains the most common barrier to getting support. A Mental Health Care Plan from a GP can unlock Medicare rebates for a set number of psychology sessions each year, which brings the out of pocket cost down considerably. Plenty of people simply do not know this pathway exists until someone mentions it to them directly. Distance and scheduling can also get in the way, particularly for people outside major cities or juggling full time work.
Telehealth has helped narrow this gap in recent years, letting people fit an appointment into a lunch break or a quiet evening at home rather than needing to travel across town.
Signs it might be time to speak with someone
Persistent worry or racing thoughts that do not settle with rest
Feeling flat, unmotivated, or disconnected from things you usually enjoy
Trouble concentrating or finishing tasks that used to feel manageable
Sleep that is either hard to get to or does not feel restorative
A sense that you are constantly running on empty, even after a break
At Valentia Health in Taringa, this is often the exact stage of life clients are in when they first reach out. Some come in for anxiety or low mood. Others are exploring whether focus or attention difficulties they have carried for years might actually be ADHD, something the same AIHW data also points to, with a sharp rise in ADHD related medication use over the past decade (AIHW, 2026). Sessions are available in person in Taringa, close to Indooroopilly, Toowong, and Auchenflower, or by telehealth anywhere in Australia, so distance is rarely the reason someone waits.
What actually happens when you reach out
The first appointment is usually just a conversation. A psychologist will ask what has been going on, how long it has been going on for, and what kind of support might actually help. There is no requirement to have it all figured out before you walk in the door. Most people find the hardest part is making the initial call. From there, a plan usually takes shape over the first few sessions, built around what is realistic for that person's actual life.
If any of this sounds familiar, it might be worth a conversation. Valentia Health offers support for anxiety, depression, ADHD assessment, and general psychological wellbeing for adults, teens, and families across Brisbane and Australia wide via telehealth. You can find out more or book a session at valentiahealth.com.au, or call the practice directly if you would rather ask a question first.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2026) Australia's Health 2026, AIHW, Australian Government. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2026/contents/key-findings
This post is for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional psychological advice. If you are in crisis, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000.