A mental health package worth almost $50 million will in part fund data collection to help doctors identify those in most urgent need in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australians who need mental health support because of the extra pressures of the coronavirus are also being encouraged to reach out for help sooner rather than later.

The new funding package will include the collection of real-time data on the impacts on mental health and what support works best, so health professionals are best placed to reach out to the most vulnerable people.

National Mental Health Commission head Christine Morgan said this was critical because there was a big gap in data at the moment.