Calls to Medibank mental health service more than double after Can We Talk? launch

More Australians are reaching out for help and having conversations about their mental health since the launch of a national campaign.

More Australians are reaching out for help and having conversations about their mental health since the launch of News Corp’s Can We Talk? campaign.

The awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, was launched in March to help families open up about their mental health and push for greater government funding.

Providing simple solutions and valuable support information has been a priority of the Can We Talk? series published across our daily news platforms.

Over the next week, the series will focus on the impact anxiety is having on Australians and how we can take action.

Medibank has reported a significant increase in support requests since the Can We Talk? campaign launched, with calls to its dedicated 24/7 Medibank Mental Health Support service more than doubling from February to April.

Weeks after the campaign began, the federal government committed $1bn to fund free public mental health services, such as new and upgraded Medicare Mental Health Centres and funding for more headspace centres to help young Australians.

Medibank chief executive officer David Koczkar. Supplied

It has also committed to establishing the new National Early Intervention Service from the start of 2026, which the government estimates 150,000 Australians will access each year for free early mental health support without waiting for a GP referral.

Medibank chief executive David Koczkar said it was important to have continued awareness and open conversations about mental health.

“While it’s concerning that many Australians are struggling with their mental health, it’s very encouraging to see more people taking that important first step by reaching out and speaking to a professional,” Mr Koczkar said.

“The aim of our awareness campaign is to get more people talking about their mental health and to make it a national priority.

“We want to break the stigma around mental health and encourage more people to seek help if they need it – that first step is often the hardest.

“We’re encouraging people to look at their mental health in the same way they do their physical health, mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness.”

Medibank chief medical officer Dr Andrew Wilson’s top tips for managing anxiety

1. Make time for sleep: When you get proper sleep, you improve your ability to cope with stress. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can exacerbate your anxiety symptoms and make you feel worse.

2. Move your body: Your body produces a number of hormones during exercise that help reduce anxiety symptoms. Even a brisk 30-minute walk can help reduce the feelings of anxiety.

3. Balanced diet, full of healthy foods: Having a nutrient-rich diet is great for your overall health and wellbeing. Having a poor diet can negatively impact mood and energy levels.

4. Connect with family and friends: Talk to those close to you about your feelings. Don’t keep them bottled up.

5. Meditation or relaxation exercises: Meditation brings people back to the present and can help to reduce negative thoughts. There are a number of apps that offer guided meditation exercises which is a good start.

6. Improve your mental fitness: Much like your physical fitness, your mental fitness is just as important and can strengthen your brain to deal with difficult situations.

7. Practice being a ‘cup half full’ person: Even if it’s for just 5-10 minutes a day. Try to see the positive in situations and see if that helps improve your mental outlook.

8. Keep a diary: To help track your anxiety and see if there are any particular things that trigger it.

9. Practice regular slower breathing: Breathing at a slower rate (around 10 breaths per minute) can help alleviate feelings of anxiety.

10. Confront situation specific anxiety: This may sound counterintuitive, but gradual exposure to anxiety situations, when the anxiety is specific to that situation, can actually help. For example, if you get anxiety from public speaking, do a speech or presentation in front of loved ones.

Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, helping Australian families better tackle mental wellbeing. To follow the series and access all stories, tips and advice, visit our new Health section.

Originally published as Calls to Medibank mental health service more than double after Can We Talk? launch