Like physical health, if left untreated you will likely become unwell. That being said, not everyone experiences mental illness.

But in any year, it is estimated about one in five Australians will. That in itself is a considerable number of people. Making matters worse, at the moment many people who are living with mental illness don't seek help. And if they do, they often don't receive the level of care deemed necessary.

Our health system, by tradition, is designed around treating physical illness. Further, the societal awareness around what constitutes mental ill-health and how to treat it, is still very much not considered "mainstream".

This is even though mental ill-health costs the Australian economy up to $50 billion a year. This, according to the productivity commission's draft report into mental health, which also attributes a further $130 billion with diminished health and reduced life expectancy for those living with mental ill-health.

On Monday, the productivity commission held a hearing in Launceston. The inquiry is aimed at examining the effects of mental health on a person's ability to participate in and prosper in their community and workplace. It's about generational change.

In Tasmania, there were 78 deaths by suicide in 2018, compared to 80 in 2017. But for every person lost to suicide, countless others will be impacted. The impact of a life lost to suicide is devastating and widespread.

As a state and a country we have made considerable progress in addressing these statistics in recent years. But while community awareness around mental ill-health has made strides, our mental health system has lagged.

Why? The productivity commission identifies under investment in prevention and early intervention, access to suitable support and stigma and discrimination among some of the key factors driving poor health outcomes.

There is no quick fix, but what's clear is we can no longer afford complacency. The evidence is there.

It's time to listen and to act.