Note: This article discusses suicide and self-harm. Please consider your wellbeing and seek help if needed.

An Australian-first survey has uncovered a mental health crisis among children and adults living with tic-related disorders, including Tourette’s syndrome, revealing widespread emotional distress, systematic failures in treatment, and high rates of discrimination.

The Impact of Tourette’s report, led by The Kids Research Institute Australia in partnership with UNSW Sydney, surveyed more than 200 individuals and caregivers across the country. The findings paint a troubling picture, as they discovered half of all children with a tic-related disorder have considered suicide, and one in 10 has attempted it. Among adults, the statistics are even more stark, with one in four reporting they had attempted suicide.

This crisis has reinforced the need for better frontline training, a challenge many training providers, including Skills Centre Australia, are actively working to address.

An estimated 50,000 Australians are living with Tourette’s syndrome or a related condition. Despite its prevalence, the report found that tic disorders remain widely misunderstood and severely under-supported within Australia’s healthcare, education, and disability systems.

More than 80% of survey respondents reported experiencing tics daily—sometimes occurring every few seconds—and many endured episodes lasting hours. Four in five participants experienced tics that caused physical pain, and two-thirds reported injuries as a direct result of their condition.

In addition to physical challenges, the emotional toll was significant. A third of children and nearly half of adults reported self-harming behaviours. Bullying was a frequent experience, with three in four children reporting harassment by their peers, and one in three facing it from teachers. In adult settings, two in five respondents said they were unable to work due to the severity of their symptoms, with many experiencing discrimination or ridicule in the workplace.

Barriers in diagnosis and care were also prominent. A quarter of respondents waited more than two years for a formal diagnosis, and many were left without any clinical guidance following that diagnosis. Most respondents highlighted a lack of awareness among health workers and educators, contributing to delays in support and treatment.

Only a small fraction of participants had successfully accessed funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), despite the considerable daily impacts of their condition. Three out of four applications for NDIS support had been declined.

This emphasises the need to improve training across all levels of the care workforce. Skills Centre Australia, for instance, is committed to improving outcomes for people with complex needs. By delivering targeted, practical trainings, these organisations are helping bridge crucial knowledge gaps and promote a more responsive, empathetic approach to care.

The Impact of Tourette’s report makes seven key recommendations, including:

• Development of a National Guidelines for diagnosing and managing tic disorders.
• Increased training and resources for healthcare providers, educators, employers, and policymakers.
• Targeted funding for mental health services and support for individuals and families affected by tic-related conditions.
• Implementation of national standards for educational support, ensuring students with tic disorders receive appropriate accommodations.

The findings highlight systematic gaps across the health, education, and disability sectors, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated national response.

The Impact for Tourette’s report lays bare the urgent and unmet needs of Australians living with tic-related disorders. It not only highlights the profound mental health risks and social isolation faced by individuals with conditions like Tourette’s, but also exposes critical shortcomings in the systems meant to support them. Without national clinical guidelines, adequate fundings, or widespread awareness, many are left to navigate a complex and exhausting path on their own.

The report’s recommendations provide a clear roadmap for change, one that demands immediate attention from policymakers, educators, and healthcare leaders to ensure no child or adult continues to suffer in silence.

Training organisations like Skills Centre Australia are driving meaningful change by shaping a more knowledgeable and compassionate workforce. Through targeted education in complex care, these facilities help lay the groundwork for a more inclusive system; one that truly understands and supports every Australian.

If you or a loved one needs help, contact:

• Triple-0 if immediate care is needed
• Lifeline on 131 114
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• SANE on 1800 187 263