Mental health services provided in emergency departments - State and territory data

Last updated: 19 Aug 2025

The proportion of mental health-related emergency departments (ED) presentations triaged as Urgent or higher has increased over time, ranging from 4% in Western Australia to 18% in New South Wales

Across most states and territories, the most frequent principal diagnosis group for mental health-related ED presentations was Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10–F19)

The proportion of mental health-related ED presentations seen on time has decreased over time with the largest decreases in Tasmania (22%) and South Australia (19%)

A separate section focusing on state and territory data can be found on the following page - Mental health services provided in emergency departments.

Service provision

Between 2014–15 and 2023–24, there was variability between jurisdictions, with the rates of mental health-related ED presentations (per 10,000 population) decreasing in some (New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania) and increasing in the others (Table ED.1).

In 2023–24, the Northern Territory had the highest rate (266), and Victoria had the lowest (97). This pattern is consistent since 2014–15 (Figure ED.1) and aligns with the broader trend observed in general emergency department rates, where the Northern Territory consistently reports the highest rate and Victoria the lowest rate (AIHW, 2025a).

Figure ED.1: Mental health-related ED presentations by state and territory, 2014–15 to 2023–24

Number

Rate (per 10,000 population)

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	88469 presentations	48737 presentations	54923 presentations	26157 presentations	21109 presentations	5484 presentations	3958 presentations	6064 presentations
2015–16	98024 presentations	53211 presentations	56965 presentations	29827 presentations	23003 presentations	5922 presentations	4238 presentations	6486 presentations
2016–17	94259 presentations	54114 presentations	56166 presentations	31414 presentations	23596 presentations	6122 presentations	4743 presentations	6540 presentations
2017–18	95090 presentations	57527 presentations	57022 presentations	35634 presentations	24350 presentations	5817 presentations	4626 presentations	6919 presentations
2018–19	102769 presentations	63072 presentations	59586 presentations	36929 presentations	23739 presentations	5909 presentations	4650 presentations	6686 presentations
2019–20	96681 presentations	64994 presentations	65802 presentations	37885 presentations	26749 presentations	6088 presentations	5283 presentations	6989 presentations
2020–21	93079 presentations	66165 presentations	65270 presentations	38592 presentations	27467 presentations	6122 presentations	5411 presentations	7551 presentations
2021–22	85281 presentations	58462 presentations	61548 presentations	34964 presentations	22414 presentations	5824 presentations	4663 presentations	7020 presentations
2022–23	88478 presentations	56700 presentations	68062 presentations	35360 presentations	21412 presentations	5760 presentations	4502 presentations	7145 presentations
2023-24	93483 presentations	66732 presentations	71966 presentations	37982 presentations	22198 presentations	6017 presentations	5019 presentations	6765 presentations

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	117 presentations per 10,000 population	82 presentations per 10,000 population	116 presentations per 10,000 population	103 presentations per 10,000 population	125 presentations per 10,000 population	107 presentations per 10,000 population	101 presentations per 10,000 population	250 presentations per 10,000 population
2015–16	128 presentations per 10,000 population	87 presentations per 10,000 population	119 presentations per 10,000 population	117 presentations per 10,000 population	135 presentations per 10,000 population	115 presentations per 10,000 population	106 presentations per 10,000 population	266 presentations per 10,000 population
2016–17	121 presentations per 10,000 population	87 presentations per 10,000 population	115 presentations per 10,000 population	122 presentations per 10,000 population	137 presentations per 10,000 population	117 presentations per 10,000 population	116 presentations per 10,000 population	266 presentations per 10,000 population
2017–18	120 presentations per 10,000 population	90 presentations per 10,000 population	115 presentations per 10,000 population	137 presentations per 10,000 population	140 presentations per 10,000 population	109 presentations per 10,000 population	110 presentations per 10,000 population	280 presentations per 10,000 population
2018–19	128 presentations per 10,000 population	97 presentations per 10,000 population	118 presentations per 10,000 population	140 presentations per 10,000 population	135 presentations per 10,000 population	109 presentations per 10,000 population	108 presentations per 10,000 population	272 presentations per 10,000 population
2019–20	120 presentations per 10,000 population	99 presentations per 10,000 population	128 presentations per 10,000 population	141 presentations per 10,000 population	150 presentations per 10,000 population	110 presentations per 10,000 population	120 presentations per 10,000 population	284 presentations per 10,000 population
2020–21	115 presentations per 10,000 population	101 presentations per 10,000 population	126 presentations per 10,000 population	141 presentations per 10,000 population	153 presentations per 10,000 population	109 presentations per 10,000 population	121 presentations per 10,000 population	305 presentations per 10,000 population
2021–22	105 presentations per 10,000 population	89 presentations per 10,000 population	117 presentations per 10,000 population	127 presentations per 10,000 population	124 presentations per 10,000 population	102 presentations per 10,000 population	103 presentations per 10,000 population	283 presentations per 10,000 population
2022–23	107 presentations per 10,000 population	84 presentations per 10,000 population	126 presentations per 10,000 population	125 presentations per 10,000 population	117 presentations per 10,000 population	101 presentations per 10,000 population	98 presentations per 10,000 population	284 presentations per 10,000 population
2023-24	111 presentations per 10,000 population	97 presentations per 10,000 population	130 presentations per 10,000 population	130 presentations per 10,000 population	119 presentations per 10,000 population	105 presentations per 10,000 population	107 presentations per 10,000 population	266 presentations per 10,000 population

Source: Mental health services provided in emergency departments states and territories 2023–24 tables (Table ED.6) | Data source overview

Table ED.1: Change in mental health-related emergency department presentation rates per 10,000 population by state and territory, 2014–15 to 2023–24
	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	117	82	116	103	125	107	101	250
2023–24	111	97	130	130	119	105	107	266
Rate change	-6	15	14	27	-6	-2	6	16

Principal diagnosis

In 2023–24, the 3 most frequent principal diagnosis groupings for mental health-related ED presentations across all states and territories were Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10–F19), Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F40–F49), and Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20–F29) (Figure ED.2). Specifically:

the Northern Territory (53%) reported the highest proportion of presentations for F10–F19 diagnoses, while Western Australia (34%) recorded the highest proportion for F40–F49 diagnoses
the group Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20–F29) was the next most frequent for Victoria (19%) and South Australia (18%).

Figure ED.2: Top 3 most frequent principal diagnosis groupings among mental health-related emergency department presentations by state and territory, 2023–24

State and Territory	Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10–F19)	Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F40–F49)	Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20–F29)
New South Wales	25%	23%	11%
Victoria	29%	17%	19%
Queensland	30%	22%	13%
Western Australia	28%	34%	11%
South Australia	27%	17%	18%
Tasmania	24%	17%	13%
Australian Capital Territory	26%	28%	16%
Northern Territory	53%	16%	15%

Source: Mental health services provided in emergency departments states and territories 2023–24 tables (Table ED.10) | Data source overview

Trends in principal diagnosis over time

During the past decade, 2014–15 to 2023–24 key trends in the principal diagnosis (Figure ED.3):

Northern Territory consistently shows the highest proportions of F10–F19 diagnoses (53%–60%), while Western Australia has the highest proportions of F40–F49 diagnoses (34%–37%) over time
Victoria and South Australia have shown an upward trend in the proportions of presentations for F20–F29 diagnoses since 2020–21 (15%–19% and 12%–18% respectively)
South Australia has shown a decline in F40–F49 diagnoses, dropping from a peak of 30% in 2020–21 to 17% in 2023–24, following a period of relative stability in earlier years.

Figure ED.3: Proportions of the 3 most frequent principal diagnosis groupings in mental health emergency department presentations by state and territory, 2014–15 to 2023–24

F10–F19

F20–F29

F40–F49

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	21% for F10–F19 diagnoses	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	58% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2015–16	31% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	19% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	59% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2016–17	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	21% for F10–F19 diagnoses	21% for F10–F19 diagnoses	57% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2017–18	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	22% for F10–F19 diagnoses	19% for F10–F19 diagnoses	60% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2018–19	30% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	21% for F10–F19 diagnoses	21% for F10–F19 diagnoses	53% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2019–20	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	29% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	54% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2020–21	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	29% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	53% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2021–22	22% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	21% for F10–F19 diagnoses	22% for F10–F19 diagnoses	55% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2022–23	23% for F10–F19 diagnoses	29% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	54% for F10–F19 diagnoses
2023–24	25% for F10–F19 diagnoses	29% for F10–F19 diagnoses	30% for F10–F19 diagnoses	28% for F10–F19 diagnoses	27% for F10–F19 diagnoses	24% for F10–F19 diagnoses	26% for F10–F19 diagnoses	53% for F10–F19 diagnoses

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	9% for F20–F29 diagnoses	15% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	14% for F20–F29 diagnoses	18% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2015–16	9% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2016–17	9% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	15% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2017–18	9% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	14% for F20–F29 diagnoses	19% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2018–19	8% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	15% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2019–20	9% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	14% for F20–F29 diagnoses	14% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2020–21	9% for F20–F29 diagnoses	15% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	15% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2021–22	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	10% for F20–F29 diagnoses	14% for F20–F29 diagnoses	12% for F20–F29 diagnoses	18% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2022–23	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	17% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses
2023–24	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	19% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	11% for F20–F29 diagnoses	18% for F20–F29 diagnoses	13% for F20–F29 diagnoses	16% for F20–F29 diagnoses	15% for F20–F29 diagnoses

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	25% for F40–F49 diagnoses	37% for F40–F49 diagnoses	35% for F40–F49 diagnoses	21% for F40–F49 diagnoses	26% for F40–F49 diagnoses	19% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2015–16	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	26% for F40–F49 diagnoses	36% for F40–F49 diagnoses	35% for F40–F49 diagnoses	21% for F40–F49 diagnoses	30% for F40–F49 diagnoses	18% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2016–17	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	23% for F40–F49 diagnoses	28% for F40–F49 diagnoses	37% for F40–F49 diagnoses	34% for F40–F49 diagnoses	21% for F40–F49 diagnoses	29% for F40–F49 diagnoses	18% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2017–18	23% for F40–F49 diagnoses	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	28% for F40–F49 diagnoses	37% for F40–F49 diagnoses	33% for F40–F49 diagnoses	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	27% for F40–F49 diagnoses	18% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2018–19	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	21% for F40–F49 diagnoses	29% for F40–F49 diagnoses	33% for F40–F49 diagnoses	32% for F40–F49 diagnoses	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	27% for F40–F49 diagnoses	21% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2019–20	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	33% for F40–F49 diagnoses	34% for F40–F49 diagnoses	30% for F40–F49 diagnoses	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	23% for F40–F49 diagnoses	21% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2020–21	25% for F40–F49 diagnoses	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	31% for F40–F49 diagnoses	34% for F40–F49 diagnoses	30% for F40–F49 diagnoses	20% for F40–F49 diagnoses	24% for F40–F49 diagnoses	20% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2021–22	26% for F40–F49 diagnoses	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	32% for F40–F49 diagnoses	36% for F40–F49 diagnoses	26% for F40–F49 diagnoses	20% for F40–F49 diagnoses	23% for F40–F49 diagnoses	19% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2022–23	23% for F40–F49 diagnoses	19% for F40–F49 diagnoses	28% for F40–F49 diagnoses	34% for F40–F49 diagnoses	19% for F40–F49 diagnoses	17% for F40–F49 diagnoses	26% for F40–F49 diagnoses	18% for F40–F49 diagnoses
2023–24	23% for F40–F49 diagnoses	17% for F40–F49 diagnoses	22% for F40–F49 diagnoses	34% for F40–F49 diagnoses	17% for F40–F49 diagnoses	17% for F40–F49 diagnoses	28% for F40–F49 diagnoses	16% for F40–F49 diagnoses

Source: Mental health services provided in emergency departments states and territories 2023–24 tables (Table ED.10) | Data source overview

Arrival mode Expand

In 2023–24, Ambulance, air ambulance or helicopter rescue service was the most frequent mode of arrival for mental health-related ED presentations in Queensland (59%), South Australia (57%), New South Wales (56%), Victoria (52%), and Tasmania (51%).

Arrival by Other means of transport – including (but not limited to) private transport, public transport, community transport, private ambulance, taxi and walking – was the most frequent mode in Western Australia (50%) and the Australian Capital Territory (47%).

The highest proportions of mental health-related ED presentations to arrive by Police/correctional service vehicles were in the Northern Territory (11%) and the Australian Capital Territory (10%).

For more data, go to Data tables (Table ED.7).

Triage category Expand

In 2023–24, for almost all states and territories, the most frequently recorded triage category assigned to mental health-related ED presentations was Urgent (ranging from 56% of presentations in Queensland to 41% in the Northern Territory), followed by Semi-urgent (ranging from 27% of presentations in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, and Western Australia to 19% in Queensland). The exceptions to this were Victoria and Queensland where the proportions of presentations categorised as Emergency (25% in Victoria and 19% in Queensland) were the same or greater than Semi-urgent (20% in Victoria and 19% in Queensland).

Between 2014–15 and 2023–24, the proportion of mental health-related ED presentations triaged as Urgent (that is, Resuscitation, Emergency) has increased across all states and territories, from 4% in Western Australia to 18% in New South Wales (Figure ED.4). The increase levels were seen over time.

New South Wales (54% to 72%) and Victoria (63% to 79%) reported the highest increases
Western Australia (67% to 71%) and South Australia (67% to 75%) remained consistently high, with a gradual upward trend.

For more data, go to Data tables (Table ED.6).

What are the characteristics of emergency departments services?

Waiting time

An ED presentation is classified as ‘seen on time’ when commencement of clinical care is within the time specified in the definition of the triage category. In 2023–24, New South Wales (68%), Victoria (65%), and Queensland (66%) had the highest proportions of presentations seen on time. Tasmania (42%), Western Australia (41%), and South Australia (40%) reported the lowest proportions of presentations seen on time (Figure ED.4). Nationally, in 2023–24, 67% of patients were seen on time for their triage category across all EDs (AIHW 2025a), and 60% for mental health-related ED presentations (AIHW 2025b).

In 2023–24, Victoria (16 minutes) and New South Wales (17 minutes) had the shortest median waiting time. Western Australia (47 minutes) and South Australia (43 minutes) had the longest median compared to the national median waiting time of 21 minutes (AIHW, 2025b).

Across all states and territories, the trend in relation to the proportion of mental health-related ED presentations seen on time has decreased since 2014–15. Tasmania (64% to 42%), Western Australian (61% to 41%), and South Australia (59% to 40%) recorded the largest decreases in proportions of mental health-related ED presentations seen on time over the period from 2014–15 to 2023–24 (Figure ED.4).

Figure ED.4: Characteristics of mental health-related emergency department presentations by state and territory, 2014–15 to 2023–24

Triaged as Urgent or higher

Seen on time

Median length of stay (all presentations)

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	54% categorised as Urgent or Higher	63% categorised as Urgent or Higher	64% categorised as Urgent or Higher	67% categorised as Urgent or Higher	67% categorised as Urgent or Higher	60% categorised as Urgent or Higher	57% categorised as Urgent or Higher	57% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2015–16	52% categorised as Urgent or Higher	64% categorised as Urgent or Higher	66% categorised as Urgent or Higher	66% categorised as Urgent or Higher	68% categorised as Urgent or Higher	60% categorised as Urgent or Higher	62% categorised as Urgent or Higher	60% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2016–17	57% categorised as Urgent or Higher	66% categorised as Urgent or Higher	68% categorised as Urgent or Higher	66% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher	61% categorised as Urgent or Higher	64% categorised as Urgent or Higher	58% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2017–18	59% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher	64% categorised as Urgent or Higher	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher	60% categorised as Urgent or Higher	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher	65% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2018–19	58% categorised as Urgent or Higher	72% categorised as Urgent or Higher	71% categorised as Urgent or Higher	65% categorised as Urgent or Higher	71% categorised as Urgent or Higher	61% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher	65% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2019–20	62% categorised as Urgent or Higher	74% categorised as Urgent or Higher	71% categorised as Urgent or Higher	65% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher	62% categorised as Urgent or Higher	75% categorised as Urgent or Higher	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2020–21	67% categorised as Urgent or Higher	75% categorised as Urgent or Higher	75% categorised as Urgent or Higher	67% categorised as Urgent or Higher	71% categorised as Urgent or Higher	63% categorised as Urgent or Higher	72% categorised as Urgent or Higher	74% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2021–22	68% categorised as Urgent or Higher	76% categorised as Urgent or Higher	75% categorised as Urgent or Higher	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher	72% categorised as Urgent or Higher	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher	66% categorised as Urgent or Higher	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2022–23	69% categorised as Urgent or Higher	77% categorised as Urgent or Higher	76% categorised as Urgent or Higher	71% categorised as Urgent or Higher	74% categorised as Urgent or Higher	72% categorised as Urgent or Higher	68% categorised as Urgent or Higher	67% categorised as Urgent or Higher
2023–24	72% categorised as Urgent or Higher	79% categorised as Urgent or Higher	77% categorised as Urgent or Higher	71% categorised as Urgent or Higher	75% categorised as Urgent or Higher	74% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher	70% categorised as Urgent or Higher

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	77% seen on time	73% seen on time	71% seen on time	61% seen on time	59% seen on time	64% seen on time	65% seen on time	58% seen on time
2015–16	77% seen on time	72% seen on time	68% seen on time	57% seen on time	59% seen on time	59% seen on time	59% seen on time	59% seen on time
2016–17	76% seen on time	72% seen on time	66% seen on time	56% seen on time	56% seen on time	57% seen on time	58% seen on time	58% seen on time
2017–18	77% seen on time	71% seen on time	65% seen on time	57% seen on time	52% seen on time	56% seen on time	43% seen on time	56% seen on time
2018–19	75% seen on time	68% seen on time	65% seen on time	55% seen on time	50% seen on time	53% seen on time	38% seen on time	61% seen on time
2019–20	76% seen on time	64% seen on time	74% seen on time	58% seen on time	57% seen on time	52% seen on time	42% seen on time	65% seen on time
2020–21	74% seen on time	63% seen on time	69% seen on time	49% seen on time	53% seen on time	43% seen on time	38% seen on time	60% seen on time
2021–22	71% seen on time	57% seen on time	64% seen on time	42% seen on time	50% seen on time	42% seen on time	41% seen on time	58% seen on time
2022–23	68% seen on time	60% seen on time	63% seen on time	41% seen on time	42% seen on time	42% seen on time	42% seen on time	51% seen on time
2023–24	68% seen on time	65% seen on time	66% seen on time	41% seen on time	40% seen on time	42% seen on time	50% seen on time	50% seen on time

Year	New South Wales	Victoria	Queensland	Western Australia	South Australia	Tasmania	Australian Capital Territory	Northern Territory
2014–15	3 hours 6 minutes	3 hours 24 minutes	2 hours 50 minutes	3 hours 42 minutes	4 hours 11 minutes	3 hours 48 minutes	4 hours 3 minutes	4 hours 19 minutes
2015–16	2 hours 53 minutes	3 hours 30 minutes	3 hours 3 minutes	3 hours 53 minutes	4 hours 4 minutes	3 hours 59 minutes	3 hours 55 minutes	4 hours 2 minutes
2016–17	3 hours 8 minutes	3 hours 33 minutes	3 hours 15 minutes	3 hours 52 minutes	4 hours 20 minutes	4 hours 6 minutes	3 hours 37 minutes	3 hours 27 minutes
2017–18	3 hours 12 minutes	3 hours 45 minutes	3 hours 20 minutes	3 hours 45 minutes	4 hours 45 minutes	4 hours 35 minutes	3 hours 59 minutes	3 hours 26 minutes
2018–19	3 hours 14 minutes	3 hours 54 minutes	3 hours 32 minutes	3 hours 42 minutes	4 hours 53 minutes	5 hours 4 minutes	4 hours 31 minutes	3 hours 27 minutes
2019–20	3 hours 27 minutes	3 hours 58 minutes	3 hours 19 minutes	3 hours 41 minutes	4 hours 36 minutes	4 hours 58 minutes	4 hours 43 minutes	3 hours 23 minutes
2020–21	3 hours 48 minutes	4 hours 6 minutes	3 hours 37 minutes	4 hours 9 minutes	4 hours 51 minutes	5 hours 27 minutes	5 hours 2 minutes	3 hours 31 minutes
2021–22	4 hours 13 minutes	4 hours 50 minutes	4 hours 1 minutes	4 hours 47 minutes	5 hours 15 minutes	5 hours 52 minutes	5 hours 29 minutes	4 hours 6 minutes
2022–23	4 hours 51 minutes	5 hours 13 minutes	4 hours 27 minutes	5 hours 1 minutes	6 hours 25 minutes	6 hours 28 minutes	5 hours 25 minutes	3 hours 9 minutes
2023–24	5 hours 6 minutes	5 hours 2 minutes	4 hours 34 minutes	5 hours 4 minutes	7 hours 2 minutes	6 hours 44 minutes	4 hours 52 minutes	4 hours 25 minutes

Source: Mental health services provided in emergency departments states and territories 2023–24 tables (Table ED.6); Table ED wait time LOS 2324 | Data source overview

Length of stay

Length of emergency department stay refers to the elapsed time from presentation to physical departure from the ED unit. In 2023–24, South Australia (7 hours and 2 minutes) had the longest median length of stay for all mental health-related ED presentations, followed by Tasmania (6 hours and 44 minutes) (Figure ED.4). The national median length of stay was 5 hours and 3 minutes for all mental health-related presentations in 2023–24 (AIHW, 2025b).

For mental health-related presentations ending in admission, the longest median lengths of stay were in Tasmania (14 hours and 56 minutes) and South Australia (11 hours and 18 minutes). The national median length of stay was 7 hours 13 minutes for mental health-related presentations ending in admission (AIHW, 2025b).

For more data, go to Data tables (Table ED wait time LOS 2324).

Episode end status

In 2023–24, the most frequently recorded episode end status for all states and territories mental health-related ED presentations was either “Admitted to this hospital” (ranging from 29% in New South Wales to 57% in Australian Capital Territory) or “Departed without being admitted or referred to another hospital” (ranging from 36% in Australian Capital Territory to 61% in Tasmania). Nationally, 38% and 52% of mental health-related presentations resulted in these two respective status categories (AIHW, 2025b). New South Wales reported highest rate of “Did not wait to be attended by a health care professional” or “Left at own risk” (7%).

For more data, go to Data tables (Table ED.8).

Where can I find more information?

Data source Expand

National Non-Admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Database

All state and territory health authorities collect a core set of nationally comparable information on emergency department (ED) presentations (including mental health-related ED presentations) in public hospitals within their jurisdiction. The AIHW compiles this data annually to form the National Non-Admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Database (NNAPEDCD). In 2023–24, 293 of Australia’s public hospital emergency departments reported emergency department presentations to the NNAPEDCD (AIHW 2023).

Prior to 2014–15, diagnosis-related information was not included in the NNAPEDCD and states and territories provided the AIHW with a bespoke analysis of mental health-related ED presentations. Diagnosis-related data has subsequently been included in the NNAPEDCD. In this report, data from 2014–15 to 2023–24 are sourced from the NNAPEDCD.

Definition of mental health-related emergency department presentations

Mental health-related ED presentations in this report are defined as presentations in public hospital EDs that have a principal diagnosis of Mental and behavioural disorders (that is, codes F00–F99) in ICD-10-AM or the equivalent codes in other coding schemas. It does not include codes for self-harm or poisoning.

For 2023–24, principal diagnoses information is reported for the NNAPEDCD using ICD-10-AM (11th Ed) Principal Diagnosis Short List, developed by the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) from the full version of ICD-10-AM. Further information is available in Emergency department care 2023–24 Technical appendixes (AIHW 2024).

The Mental and behavioural disorders principal diagnosis codes may not fully capture all mental health-related presentations to EDs, such as presentations for self-harm. Diagnosis codes for intentional self-harm are not part of the Mental and behavioural disorders chapter and are not in-scope for the principal diagnosis variable for the NNAPEDCD. Additionally, a presentation for self-harm may have a principal diagnosis relating to the injury, for example Open wound to wrist and hand. These presentations cannot be identified as mental health-related presentations in the NNAPEDCD and are not included in this report.

Further information on the NNAPEDCD is available on METEOR, the AIHW’s Metadata Online Registry.

Mental health-related diagnosis groupings taken from ICD-10-AM diagnosis codes

F00–09: Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders
F10–19: Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use
F20–29: Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders
F30–39: Mood (affective) disorders
F40–49: Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders
F50–59: Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors
F60–69: Disorders of adult personality and behaviour
F70–79; F80–89: Mental retardation; Disorders of psychological development
F90–98: Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence
F99: Mental disorder, not otherwise specified

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