We need to do more for mental health
This isn't about blame, it's about recognising the gap and choosing to fill it.
It’s no surprise to anyone paying attention that Australia is facing a mental health crisis.
Across the country, parents, educators and healthcare workers are sounding the alarm: Australians are grappling with unprecedented levels of emotional distress. Diagnoses of anxiety and depression are climbing, eating disorders are appearing at younger ages, and chronic stress is becoming a normal part of our fast-paced lives. These worrying patterns have been intensifying for years.
What’s causing this epidemic of mental health challenges? There’s no single explanation. Experts point to a combination of factors including the relentless presence of social media, the long-term impact of the pandemic and lockdowns, war, economic insecurity, climate anxiety, and a sense of disconnection from real-world communities. It’s a tangled web, and we are only beginning to understand its full complexity.
Despite growing awareness, the path forward remains unclear. There’s no universal solution to supporting people who are in distress, just a patchwork of approaches that work for some and not for others. Still, one major shift has been a positive one, the fact that poor mental health is no longer the taboo it once was. Seeking support is encouraged, and the shame that once silenced so many is slowly lifting. More people are accessing services and having open conversations about their emotional wellbeing.
But even with this progress, we’re still falling short.
As a community rabbi with a master’s in social work, I often find myself supporting families who are overwhelmed and desperate for answers. Parents call me unsure of how to help their children navigate emotional turmoil. Families in distress will come and talk about their issues. Congregants who are lonely and distressed will reach out.
Many of these people are juggling complex diagnoses, addiction and seeing multiple therapists, each trying to help them manage an increasingly heavy emotional load.
Our young people are also suffering. Schools are struggling to cope. Welfare departments are stretched to their limits, trying to meet the needs of entire classrooms affected by psychological distress. The ever-present influence of social media, fuelled by unrealistic comparisons, cyberbullying, phone and and constant connectivity only deepens the crisis. Educators are not just teaching curriculum; they’re working on the front lines of a mental health emergency.
Recently, I was shaken by the loss of two people I knew. These losses hit me hard. They weren’t just distant stories or abstract tragedies; they were personal, painful and deeply human. They reminded me, in the most heartbreaking way, that what we’re facing isn’t hypothetical. It’s real. It’s urgent. And it’s not going away on its own.
These moments of grief brought a painful clarity: our current approach to mental health and crisis support isn’t enough. We can’t afford to keep reacting after the fact. We need to do more – sooner. We need to reach people before they reach the point of no return.
As a Jewish community, we pride ourselves on being highly organised and responsive. We have built robust systems to address many forms of hardship, poverty, physical illness and education. But when it comes to supporting those in crisis with their mental health, we are underprepared. While some efforts are underway, there is no centralised resource or coordinated strategy.
This isn’t about blame, it’s about recognising the gap and choosing to fill it.
We need to approach this with care, urgency and compassion, and ensure that support is available to all members of our community, from school-aged children to mothers, fathers, and even our elders. Mental health doesn’t discriminate, and neither should our response.
If we can form committees to address educational excellence, why not do the same for mental wellbeing? We need our peak communal organisations to prioritise this issue and conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, gather data, consult with schools and youth groups, and invest in scalable, evidence-based solutions.
The people in our community are our future but they are also our present. They need support, not just slogans. They need action, not just awareness. The time to act is now. We cannot afford to wait. And of course, the first thing to do is check in with your friends and neighbours. You might never know who is struggling and could use the support.
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann is rabbi of the ARK Centre in Melbourne.
If you need to talk to someone, call:
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78