This International Women’s Day, SANE recognises the need for innovation in creating a gender-equal future, and in particular the critical role technology can play in creating an inclusive, accessible and equitable mental health system for all women.

The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing showed that one in four Australian women aged between 16-85 were diagnosed with a mental disorder in 2020-21, with the most reported being anxiety disorders including social phobia and PTSD.

Women disproportionately experience sexism, violence, abuse and financial insecurity, increasing their risk of trauma. We are committed to ensure the voices of women influence how we deliver our services.

These issues are further compounded by the findings in SANE’s recent Bridging the Gaps survey which also found that women seeking mental health care experienced challenges with affordability (53%), waiting lists times (34%) and a lack of access to the right providers to support their recovery (18%).

“Having experienced domestic violence for 28 years I have found accessing help in the mental health space to be very hard. There seems to be a lack of education and understanding about PTSD, DV and trauma. Repeating my “story” to different services is triggering, staff appear very uncomfortable with the DV, and services don’t follow up.” - Bridging the Gaps survey participant.

The use of digital technology is one way we can ensure women have equitable and affordable access to mental health care, no matter what circumstances they are living under.

During the week, we spoke with Myra, SANE's Head of Information Technology and Emma, SANE's Counselling Manager and Thalia, a counsellor at SANE, to give some insight into how innovation is ensuring equitable mental health care for women in our community.

Myra says we have seen the benefits of digital technology to provide support and increased access to the life-changing connection, community, continuity and contribution that we know women with complex mental health needs rely
on.

“SANE’s services do not see gender as a factor for access,” she said.

According to Emma, trauma-informed care is at the heart of SANE services.

“After experiencing trauma, women are significantly more likely to develop PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders than men. All service delivery staff undergo trauma-informed care training so that they are well-equipped to provide safe, trustworthy and collaborative care that provides choice and is empowering.”

Counsellors and peer support workers use a person-centred approach to holistically bring together various aspects of a person’s life including their social, emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual health.”

Our digital and telephone support services are free and ensure that we can reach those most in need to help address the inequity in Australia’s fragmented mental health systems.

Thalia (she/they), a Counsellor at SANE, also said that SANE's digital services naturally offer an inclusive space for all by bridging the gaps for so many women unable to access services they need, and at the root advocating for systemic change and equity for all.

“Our counselling and peer support workers understand complex mental health conditions and are trauma informed.”

To learn more about SANE spport services, click here.

As a national organisation that advocates for Australians living with complex mental health needs, watching the evidence being presented at the Royal Commission on Robodebt has been harrowing to say the least.

Tens of thousands of those impacted by the Robodebt scheme would have been receiving support because they were struggling with severe or lifelong mental illness and were instead persecuted with false debts.

It must be recognised that Robodebt targeted the most vulnerable group of Australians, who in many cases would not have had the executive function to understand the situation or manage the enormous administrative burden associated with clearing their name. 

Through the SANE community, we’ve heard from many about the profound impact of the scheme - the distress they experienced when harassed for money that they simply weren’t able repay, the frustration and helplessness at being stuck in a hellish bureaucratic loop of being unable to prove their innocence, and the fear of having their already limited benefits reduced or removed. 

The Government must seek alternatives to managing this administrative burden and recognise that even small amount of debt has a huge impact on a community who often struggle to even find housing or afford the basics of food and utilities.

It’s our hope that the Royal Commission puts political debate to one side and places people with lived experience at the centre of Departments and at Centrelink to ensure that this type of harmful and truly tragic failure of public policy never occurs again.

Need support or assistance? 

If you’ve been affected by the Robodebt scheme or the Royal Commission process has caused you distress, the following services may be of help -  

For crisis support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au

For general phone or online counselling, or for connection to others like you, check out SANE support services at https://www.sane.org/get-support

For free advice on your financial rights or managing debt, contact the National Debt hotline on 1800 007 007 or https://ndh.org.au

Results from the SANE Bridging the Gaps Survey shows Federal Government forum must listen to people who live with acute mental illness.

Complete a short survey and help SANE advocate for a brighter future

SANE’s 2023 Bridging the Gaps Survey aims to capture experiences of the mental health system and opinions on what changes need to be made to ensure a brighter future for people with complex mental health needs.

We are asking those with a lived experience of complex mental health issues and their families, carers and supporters to complete a short anonymous survey by Sunday 22 January 2023.

Click here to start the survey now. 

It should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Your support will help SANE advocate to the government, address mental health inequity and bridge the current gaps in mental health care for people with complex support needs.

If you have any questions or feedback about the survey, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The festive season can be tough, particularly for those living with poor mental health and trauma. SANE community forums are available to provide support when and where it’s needed.

December and January is traditionally a time for celebration, but for many, the festive season means loneliness, conflict and distress - often amplified by reduced access to regular mental health clinicians and services.  

As the national mental health organisation supporting Australians living with complex mental health needs, SANE provides a range of phone and online supports to help people manage their mental health when face to face services are limited.

In particular, the SANE Community Forums provide a safe and welcoming space where people can connect with others who have been in the same circumstance.

SANE CEO, Rachel Green, says this service addresses a critical care gap over the holidays by providing free and easily accessible support when and where it’s needed.

‘The festive season can be a very stressful and lonely time for those living with mental illness and trauma and we want people to know there is always a place you can turn to if it becomes too much.’

‘Our forums provide a safe, online space for those living with complex mental health needs, and their families, friends and carers, to share their experiences, learn from others or simply find an empathetic ear.’

‘With conversation thread covering a range of different areas, and thousands of regular users, there’s always someone up for a supportive chat.’

‘Importantly, SANE Forums are moderated 24/7 by mental health professionals and peer support workers and accessible from any internet enabled device, from anywhere in Australia.’

‘It’s been a tough few years for so many of us, so we strongly urge any Australian struggling with their mental health to reach out to us should you need support over the holiday period.’  

SANE Peer Ambassador and forum user Charlotte Osman knows what it’s like to be lonely over the holidays after moving to Australia.

‘I’d moved to Australia just before Christmas in 2001. Beyond the people I’d started working with, I knew nobody in Sydney.’

‘Australians are a friendly bunch but I soon learned that Christmas was a difficult time to arrive as people naturally tend to withdraw to their close family and friend groups which left me as an outsider.’

‘I decided to try and boost my mood by heading to the Botanical Gardens to read in the sunshine. When I got there, I couldn’t even bring myself to open the book, because all I could see was people celebrating together while I was all alone. It was a truly devastating feeling. I took myself off home to bed and didn’t get back out of bed for three days.’

‘In that instance I had to find myself a GP to get the support I needed. Since that time, I’ve discovered SANE forums and that’s where I tell people to go if they feel lonely and need support.’ 

‘The forum is filled with people who are ready to talk. They’ve come from so many different backgrounds – people with lived experience, carers, healthcare professionals – so it’s such a rich community of minds, brains and hearts. I consider some of the people I’ve met on the SANE forum to be good friends.’ 

SANE Community Forums and other support services can be accessed at https://www.sane.org/get-support

'I’d originally been diagnosed and treated for depression ten years before, so I knew what was happening, but that didn’t make it any easier to cope with. I knew I needed help, but I didn’t have anyone to ask for help'.

As the national mental health organisation representing Australians living with complex mental health, SANE welcomes the plan to address mental health treatment inequity but cautions against reducing access to already limited services.

On the 25 November, SANE hosted its 2022 Impact Update to outline the work that’s been to done tackle stigma and inequity, as well as support thousands of people living with complex mental health issues, and their families.

SANE is delighted to welcome Dr Owen Harris, Dr Anita Moss and Mr Richard Wilson to the SANE Board. We also extend our deepest gratitude to retiring Directors Dr Mark Cross and Dr Rod Farmer.