Oral health care for Australians living with mental ill-health: unaffordable, inaccessible and invisible

Journal article

Introduction: Poor oral health is a common, but overlooked, issue among people with serious mental ill-health who experience higher rates of dental caries and periodontal disease, leading to increased hospital admissions. Despite its preventability, oral health remains largely absent from Australian mental healthcare policy and service delivery. Methods: This two-phase study (1) systematically reviewed oral health integration within Australian oral and mental health policy and competitive funding mechanisms; and (2) qualitatively explored the experiences and prioritising of oral health care by individuals with serious mental ill-health, carers and healthcare professionals. Results: Findings indicated that oral health is rarely prioritised in mental health policy and that it receives only 0.22% of health research funding. Eighteen participants, including health practitioners and individuals with lived experience, were interviewed. Participants described oral health as being largely ignored, personal experiences of inadequate care, financial and psychological barriers to care and systemic neglect. Recommendations for change were identified, including a need for trauma-informed, holistic approaches to care that address social determinants and promote oral health within mental health services. Conclusion: Poor oral health significantly, and negatively, impacts both quality of life and hospital admissions for people with serious mental ill-health, yet remains overlooked in mental health care. Holistic, interdisciplinary approaches – integrating oral health into psychiatric assessments, education and policy – are essential. Early intervention, public health messaging, trauma-informed training and personalised care may improve outcomes. Co-produced interventions and equitable access to services are critical to reducing oral health disparities and enhancing well-being for individuals living with serious mental ill-health.

Authors: Wheeler, AJ; Stewart, V; Robertson, CV; Clough, B; Nguyen, T

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Journal: Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 589-598
• Publication date: 2026-05-03
• DOI: 10.1177/00048674261436938
• EISSN: 1440-1614
• ISSN: 0004-8674
• Language: English
• Keywords: Priorities; oral health; prevention; serious mental illness; policy; intervention