A report on mental health services released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that
expenditure on state and territory mental health services as a
whole increased on average by 5.2% per year (after adjusting for
inflation) from 2001-02 to 2005-06, to $2.7 billion.
Expenditure on specialised psychiatric wards in public acute
hospitals, and community mental health services, both rose by an
average of 10% per year over the same period, while public
psychiatric hospital expenditure had an average annual increase of
4%.
The report, Mental health services in Australia
2005-2006, also found that the number of full-time equivalent
staff in state and territory mental health facilities rose by 3%
per year over the same period. The number of mental-health related
prescriptions has also risen by 1% per year over recent years.
Jenny Hargreaves, Senior Executive of the AIHW's Economics and
Health Services Group said 'Widely quoted figures show that 1 in 5
Australians will experience a mental illness at some time in their
lives. And 1 in 10 encounters at GP surgeries nationwide involve
the management of a mental health problem.
The report found that depression was the most common mental
health problem managed by GPs (34%), followed by anxiety (16%) and
sleep disturbance (14%).
For hospital admissions involving psychiatric care, the most
common diagnosis was schizophrenia (18%).
In contrast to the rises in expenditure on mental health, the
number of Medicare-funded psychiatrist services fell by 1% per year
between 2001-02 and 2006-07.
'There was a big variation according to area of residence, with
relatively low numbers of psychiatrist services being provided
outside major cities,' Ms Hargreaves said. In 2006-07, there were
113 services per 1,000 population in major cities and 19 services
per 1,000 population in very remote areas.
There was also a fall-off between city and country for
Medicare-funded mental health services provided by allied health
professionals. In 2006-07, there were 33 services per 1,000
population in major cities and 22 services per 1,000 population in
remote areas. In very remote areas, 5 services were provided per
1,000 population.
The majority of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme expenditure on
medications for mental health related conditions in 2006-07 was for
antipsychotics (49%) and antidepressants (45%).
Wednesday 6 August 2006
Further information: Ms Jenny Hargreaves, AIHW,
02 6244 1121 or mobile 0407 012 520
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Mental health services
in Australia 2005-2006.