Kathy Griffiths of the Center for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University said the stigma attached to mental health disorders means the issue is often brushed under the carpet.

"Some 21 percent of Australian adults say they would be unwilling to work with an individual with depression, 30 percent would not vote for a politician with depression and 25 percent believe one can just 'snap out' of depression," Griffiths said.

"These public misconceptions may contribute to the decision by two-thirds of people with a mental illness not to seek professional help."

Mental health research has received little of the research dollar relative to the burden of disease it contributes, the researchers said.

"One in five Australians experience mental illness in their lifetime but the best figures to date suggest only 3 percent of total research and development funding in health is directed to mental health disorders," Helen Christensen, director of Center for Mental Health Research, said.