New data shows that Australians experiencing mental health crises are spending increasingly longer periods in emergency departments (ED) while waiting for inpatient beds, with some severe cases forced to remain for more than 23 hours. The findings reflect unprecedented pressure on the nation’s emergency and mental health systems. In a report released on the 25th, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) stated that EDs have been “forced to become the primary entry point” for mental health emergencies, but severe shortages in staffing and beds have pushed waiting times to unsafe levels.
According to the report, nearly 10% of mental health patients now wait more than 23 hours—an increase of around seven hours compared with a decade ago. Between 2016 and 2024, mental health-related ED presentations grew by 11% to more than 310,000, with the sharpest increases seen among First Nations people and those aged over 65. The proportion of high-urgency cases climbed from 63% to nearly 75%. ACEM stressed that mounting pressure is preventing EDs from providing appropriate care.
ACEM president Stephen Gourley warned that without immediate government investment, healthcare quality will worsen. He noted that some patients are left for long periods in brightly lit and noisy emergency areas due to the lack of available beds—conditions he described as “bordering on inhumane.” South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania were identified as the most affected, with only around 40% of patients receiving care within recommended timeframes.
ACEM is calling on state governments to increase the number of mental health beds and expand community support services, to prevent people from being forced into EDs due to a lack of alternative options. The report highlighted positive results from initiatives such as “Safe Haven Cafes” and collaborative mental-health emergency response models implemented in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria, recommending these be rolled out nationwide.
The report comes as federal and state governments engage in tense negotiations over hospital funding. The Productivity Commission recently criticised the national mental health agreement signed three years ago for failing to meet its targets, noting that around 3,000 Australians die by suicide each year, with economic losses exceeding AUD 200 billion.