National Disability Insurance Scheme participants
Introduction
‘I think [choice is] one of the most important things you can have because I think a lot of mental ill-health and a lot of ill-health, and just lack of emotional wellbeing, comes from people feeling they haven’t got a choice.’
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant
From a semi-structured interview in research into people with psychosocial disability and the NDIS (Wilson et al. 2018)
While the NDIS is designed to give people access to ‘reasonable and necessary’ supports for daily life, it does not fund services offered through the health system such as community mental health or psychiatry. This means participants must navigate the complexity of interacting systems provided through the NDIS, national, mainstream and community health services. This complexity may prove particularly difficult to navigate when someone is not operating with optimal mental health.
‘I got turned down by about 13 services … all of the mental health ones and also disability ones turned me down… And this man said, "Oh yeah … she was too complex so we didn’t take her."'
NDIS participant
From a semi-structured interview in research into people with psychosocial disability and the NDIS (Wilson et al. 2018)
The findings below show how systemic barriers and gaps in coordination between disability supports and the health system shape NDIS participants’ mental health outcomes. When services operate in silos or are not designed to work together, people can be left without timely, preventative, or community‑based support. As a result, many NDIS participants end up seeking hospital‑based mental health services, not because these are the most appropriate options, but because other supports are unavailable, inaccessible, or not designed for people with complex needs.
This report includes data starting from 2018–19. Trends are therefore likely to be impacted by the rollout of the NDIS, which may have initially brought those with the most severe mental health conditions into the scheme.
Key findings
In 2022–23:
- NDIS participants had a rate of ED presentations for mental health care 10.8 times as high as people with no government disability supports after adjusting for age
- the proportion of NDIS participants arriving at the ED by police or correctional services vehicle was almost twice as high as people with no government disability supports
- the proportion of NDIS participants who had at least one hospitalisation for mental health care was 6.9 times as high as people with no government supports
- the rate of hospitalisations for mental health care for NDIS participants was 13.8 times as high as people with no government disability supports after adjusting for age
- around 3 in 5 (63%) mental health hospitalisations for NDIS participants took place in specialist psychiatric units, compared with 2 in 5 (44%) for people with no government disability supports.
Did you know?
The NDIS does not fund clinical treatment services or therapy to address mental health symptoms. It funds ongoing functional capacity building supports and supports for daily living when needed (NDIS 2024).
Emergency department care
In 2022–23, around 3 in 100 (3.2% or 16,000) NDIS participants had at least one mental health-related ED presentation, compared with less than 1% of people with no government disability supports.
‘People seek mental health-related services in EDs for a variety of reasons, often as an initial point of contact or for after-hours care, for crisis support or being unable to access support through other means.’
Peta Marks, mental health nurse
Recorded in Mental Health in Emergency Care (Marks 2022)
In 2022–23, the rate of ED presentations for mental health care was 10.8 times as high for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports after adjusting for age; the unadjusted rate shown in Figure 1 was 9 times as high during this period.
Presentation rates have been relatively stable in recent years, although NDIS participants experienced a sharper reduction in 2021–22 than people with no government disability supports, coinciding with the COVID‑19 pandemic.
‘For people who had contact with a GP for mental health issue or had a [mental health] plan, the GP will suggest going to ED if something happens. So people who are actively seeking support for mental health reasons might actually use ED more. It's not falling through the cracks, it's following your doctor's orders.’
Reflection from inclusive research team member
Figure 1: Rate of ED presentations with a mental health diagnosis per 100,000 NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2018–19 to 2022–23
Line chart showing rate of ED presentations for mental health care.
| Financial.year.of.presentation | NDIS participants | People with no government disability supports |
|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | 6,600 | 780 |
| 2019–20 | 7,000 | 790 |
| 2020–21 | 7,000 | 800 |
| 2021–22 | 6,300 | 730 |
| 2022–23 | 6,500 | 720 |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Emergency department (ED) data are from the non-admitted patient emergency department care national minimum data set (NAPEDC NMDS), accessed via the NHDH. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- An ED presentation begins when a patient arrives at the ED and is registered or triaged. Only presentations to public hospital EDs are included.
- Mental health-related ED presentations are defined as presentations with a principal diagnosis of Mental and behavioural disorders. Presentations coded for self-harm or poisoning are not included.
- ED data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
In 2022–23, the most common modes of arrival for mental health‑related ED presentations were ambulance, air ambulance or helicopter rescue. Around 3 in 5 (57%) NDIS participants arrived this way, which was similar to the proportion for people with no government disability supports (53%).
Arrival by police or correctional services vehicles was the least common mode. One in 10 (10%) NDIS participants arrived this way, which was 1.7 times as high as the proportion for people with no government disability supports (6.1%).
‘People may arrive at the ED by police vehicle, not because they’re in custody but because police were the first responder when someone needs urgent mental health care, or the person is unable to provide consent to be transported by other means.’
Reflection from inclusive research team member
Figure 2: Arrival mode to the ED for mental health care for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2022–23
Grouped bar chart showing proportion of ED presentations for mental health care with arrival by ambulance/air ambulance/helicopter rescue service, police/correctional vehicles and other.
| Arrival mode to ED | NDIS participants | People with no government disability supports |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulance, air ambulance or helicopter rescue service | 57% | 53% |
| Police/correctional services vehicle | 10% | 6.1% |
| Other | 33% | 41% |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Emergency department (ED) data are from the non-admitted patient emergency department care national minimum data set (NAPEDC NMDS), accessed via the NHDH. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- An ED presentation begins when a patient arrives at the ED and is registered or triaged. Only presentations to public hospital EDs are included.
- Mental health-related ED presentations are defined as presentations with a principal diagnosis of Mental and behavioural disorders. Presentations coded for self-harm or poisoning are not included.
- ED data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Arriving at the ED by police or correctional vehicle does not mean a person had done anything wrong. It may reflect the support available at the time, including which service was able to help the person get to hospital.
‘Other’ includes walking, private transport, public transport, community transport and taxi.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
An ED presentation begins when a patient is registered or triaged. Triage is the process where a health professional assigns one of 5 urgency categories (or 'triage categories') based on a person’s medical care needs.
In 2022–23, around 1 in 5 (22%) mental health-related ED presentations for NDIS participants were triaged as resuscitation or emergency, the two most urgent categories. This was similar for people with no government disability supports (21%).
Figure 3: Triage category at presentation to the ED for mental health care for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2022–23
Grouped bar chart showing proportion of patients assigned each triage category when presenting to the ED for mental health care
| Triage category | NDIS participants | People with no government disability supports |
|---|---|---|
| Resuscitation | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| Emergency | 21% | 19% |
| Urgent | 54% | 52% |
| Semi-urgent | 21% | 24% |
| Non-urgent | 3.3% | 2.9% |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Emergency department (ED) data are from the non-admitted patient emergency department care national minimum data set (NAPEDC NMDS), accessed via the NHDH. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- An ED presentation begins when a patient arrives at the ED and is registered or triaged. Only presentations to public hospital EDs are included.
- Mental health-related ED presentations are defined as presentations with a principal diagnosis of Mental and behavioural disorders. Presentations coded for self-harm or poisoning are not included.
- ED data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Refer to Glossary for definition of triage categories
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
The episode end status describes the outcome of a patient’s ED presentation, including whether they were subsequently admitted or referred to another hospital.
For NDIS participants in 2022–23:
- around 2 in 5 (36%) mental health presentations at the ED resulted in hospital admission for further care
- around 1 in 2 (53%) mental health presentations were completed without admission or referral to another hospital.
These proportions were similar for people with no government disability supports (38% admitted; 54% completed without admission or referral to another hospital).
Figure 4: End status of presentations to the ED for mental health care for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2022–23
Grouped bar chart showing proportion of patients with each end status at the conclusion of an ED presentation for mental health care.
| End status of ED presentation | NDIS participants | People with no government disability supports |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalised at completion of ED presentation | 36% | 38% |
| ED presentation completed without hospitalisation or referral | 53% | 54% |
| Referred to another hospital at completion of ED presentation | 4.8% | 3.3% |
| Did not wait to be seen by health care professional | 0.79% | 0.59% |
| Left at own risk after being seen by a health care professional, but before treatment or care was finished | 4% | 3.1% |
| Registered, advised of another health service, left ED without being seen by health care professional | 1.3% | 0.93% |
| Died in emergency department | 0.019% |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Emergency department (ED) data are from the non-admitted patient emergency department care national minimum data set (NAPEDC NMDS), accessed via the NHDH. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- An ED presentation begins when a patient arrives at the ED and is registered or triaged. Only presentations to public hospital EDs are included.
- Mental health-related ED presentations are defined as presentations with a principal diagnosis of Mental and behavioural disorders. Presentations coded for self-harm or poisoning are not included.
- ED data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
Did you know?
In a 2019 survey on the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia, more than 4 in 5 (84%) LGBTIQ+ people with severe disability or long-term health condition had been diagnosed or treated for a mental health condition in the past 12 months (Hill et al. 2020).
Hospitalisations
In 2022–23 around 14,010 NDIS participants were admitted to public hospitals for mental health care, accounting for 31,630 hospitalisations. People could be admitted more than once. The number of NDIS participants admitted for mental health care more than doubled between 2018–19 and 2022–23 (from 5,720 to 14,010) corresponding with a general increase in NDIS participants.
Figure 5: Number of NDIS participants who were hospitalised for mental health care, 2018–19 to 2022–23
Line chart showing number of people who were hospitalised for mental health care.
| Financial.year.of.admission | Number of admitted mental health patients |
|---|---|
| 2018–19 | 5720 |
| 2019–20 | 8260 |
| 2020–21 | 10660 |
| 2021–22 | 12100 |
| 2022–23 | 14010 |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Admitted patient care data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) accessed via the NHDH. The NHMD contains the Admitted Patient Care National Minimum Data Set. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- Admitted patients are people who undergo a formal admission process in a public hospital to receive treatment and/or care.
- A hospitalisation is mental health-related if: it had a mental health-related principal diagnosis which, for admitted patient care, is defined as a principal diagnosis that is either a diagnosis that falls within the section on Mental and behavioural disorders (Chapter 5) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 12th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) classification (codes F00–F99) or a number of other selected diagnoses (refer to the Classification Codes section for the full list of applicable diagnoses codes and exclusions), or it included any specialised psychiatric care.
- Data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
Figure 6: Number of hospitalisations for mental health care for NDIS participants, 2018–19 to 2022–23
Line chart showing number of hospitalisations for mental health care
| Financial.year.of.admission | Number of mental health episodes |
|---|---|
| 2018–19 | 12930 |
| 2019–20 | 19540 |
| 2020–21 | 24910 |
| 2021–22 | 27940 |
| 2022–23 | 31630 |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Admitted patient care data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) accessed via the NHDH. The NHMD contains the Admitted Patient Care National Minimum Data Set. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- Admitted patients are people who undergo a formal admission process in a public hospital to receive treatment and/or care.
- A hospitalisation is mental health-related if: it had a mental health-related principal diagnosis which, for admitted patient care, is defined as a principal diagnosis that is either a diagnosis that falls within the section on Mental and behavioural disorders (Chapter 5) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 12th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) classification (codes F00–F99) or a number of other selected diagnoses (refer to the Classification Codes section for the full list of applicable diagnoses codes and exclusions), or it included any specialised psychiatric care.
- Data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
In 2022–23, the proportion of NDIS participants who had at least one hospitalisation for mental health care was 6.9 times as high as the proportion for people with no government disability supports (2.9% compared with 0.42%).
Among those admitted to hospital at least once, NDIS participants had an average of 2.3 mental health care hospitalisations during the year, which was 1.4 times as high as the average for people with no government disability supports (1.6 hospitalisations). These patterns were consistent over recent years.
Did you know?
The inclusive research team expected we would see the impact of COVID-19 on mental health-related hospitalisations, but numbers were comparatively stable over time.
‘I like to know the trend just because especially during COVID, people will suffer more for their mental health and if we just started for recent years, we don't know whether it has been improved or not.’
Reflection from inclusive research team member
| Proportion admitted (%) | Proportion admitted (%) | Average number of hospitalisations | Average number of hospitalisations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | NDIS | No disability supports | NDIS | No disability supports |
2018–19 | 2.8 | 0.45 | 2.3 | 1.6 |
2019–20 | 2.9 | 0.46 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
2020–21 | 2.9 | 0.47 | 2.3 | 1.6 |
2021–22 | 2.8 | 0.43 | 2.3 | 1.6 |
2022–23 | 2.9 | 0.42 | 2.3 | 1.6 |
Notes
- Proportion admitted refers to the percentage of population who had a mental health care hospitalisation.
- Average number is reported for admitted patients who had at least one mental health care hospitalisation.
In 2022–23, the rate of hospitalisations for mental health care was 13.8 times as high for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports after adjusting for age; the unadjusted rate shown in Figure 7 was 9.8 times as high during this period.
Figure 7: Rate of hospitalisations for mental health care for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2018–19 to 2022–23
Line chart showing rate of hospitalisations for mental health care
| Financial.year.of.admission | NDIS participants | People with no government disability supports |
|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | 6,200 | 730 |
| 2019–20 | 6,900 | 730 |
| 2020–21 | 6,900 | 730 |
| 2021–22 | 6,500 | 670 |
| 2022–23 | 6,400 | 660 |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Admitted patient care data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) accessed via the NHDH. The NHMD contains the Admitted Patient Care National Minimum Data Set. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- Admitted patients are people who undergo a formal admission process in a public hospital to receive treatment and/or care.
- A hospitalisation is mental health-related if: it had a mental health-related principal diagnosis which, for admitted patient care, is defined as a principal diagnosis that is either a diagnosis that falls within the section on Mental and behavioural disorders (Chapter 5) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 12th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) classification (codes F00–F99) or a number of other selected diagnoses (refer to the Classification Codes section for the full list of applicable diagnoses codes and exclusions), or it included any specialised psychiatric care.
- Data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
Mental health care hospitalisations may occur in a specialist psychiatric unit or in other hospital units.
Of the NDIS participants who were admitted to hospital for mental health care in 2022–23, around 3 in 5 (63%) mental health care hospitalisations occurred in specialist psychiatric units. The proportion of hospitalisations for people with no government disability supports that took place in specialist psychiatric units was around 2 in 5 (44%).
Figure 8: Proportion of hospitalisations for mental health care that involved specialist psychiatric care for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2022–23
Bar chart showing proportion of hospitalisations for mental health care that occurred in psychiatric units
| Cohort | Percentage of mental health episodes |
|---|---|
| NDIS participants | 63% |
| People with no government disability supports | 44% |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Admitted patient care data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) accessed via the NHDH. The NHMD contains the Admitted Patient Care National Minimum Data Set. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- Admitted patients are people who undergo a formal admission process in a public hospital to receive treatment and/or care.
- A hospitalisation is mental health-related if: it had a mental health-related principal diagnosis which, for admitted patient care, is defined as a principal diagnosis that is either a diagnosis that falls within the section on Mental and behavioural disorders (Chapter 5) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 12th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) classification (codes F00–F99) or a number of other selected diagnoses (refer to the Classification Codes section for the full list of applicable diagnoses codes and exclusions), or it included any specialised psychiatric care.
- Data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
Of the NDIS participants who were admitted to hospital for mental health care in 2022–23, around 3 in 4 (76%) mental health care hospitalisations lasted for one or more nights. This was similar for people with no government disability supports (80%).
Figure 9: Proportion of hospitalisations for mental health care that were overnight for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2022–23
Bar chart showing proportion of hospitalisations for mental health care that were overnight
| Cohort | Percentage of mental health episodes |
|---|---|
| NDIS participants | 76% |
| People with no government disability supports | 80% |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Admitted patient care data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) accessed via the NHDH. The NHMD contains the Admitted Patient Care National Minimum Data Set. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- Admitted patients are people who undergo a formal admission process in a public hospital to receive treatment and/or care.
- A hospitalisation is mental health-related if: it had a mental health-related principal diagnosis which, for admitted patient care, is defined as a principal diagnosis that is either a diagnosis that falls within the section on Mental and behavioural disorders (Chapter 5) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 12th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) classification (codes F00–F99) or a number of other selected diagnoses (refer to the Classification Codes section for the full list of applicable diagnoses codes and exclusions), or it included any specialised psychiatric care.
- Data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
'Separation mode' describes how a hospitalisation ended.
Of the NDIS participants admitted to hospital for mental health care in 2022–23:
- around 4 in 5 (80%) hospitalisations ended with discharge to the person’s usual residence
- around 1 in 6 (17%) hospitalisations resulted in further care, which may or may not have been provided in the same hospital.
These findings were similar for people with no government disability supports (76% discharged to usual residence; 18% further care).
Figure 10: Separation modes for hospitalisations for mental health care for NDIS participants compared with people with no government disability supports, 2022–23
Grouped bar chart showing proportion of patients with each separation mode at the conclusion of hospitalisation for mental health care
| Separation mode | NDIS participants | People with no government disability supports |
|---|---|---|
| Discharged to usual place of residence | 80% | 76% |
| Discharge/transfer to (an)other psychiatric hospital | 3.2% | 1.5% |
| Discharge/transfer to other care | 14% | 16% |
| Other | 2.7% | 5.7% |
- Data for these measures were accessed from the National Health Data Hub (NHDH). Admitted patient care data was sourced from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD) accessed via the NHDH. The NHMD contains the Admitted Patient Care National Minimum Data Set. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub
- “People with government disability supports” includes people represented by the National Disability Data Asset disability flags. The flags do not represent all people with disability. The “people with no government disability supports” group includes people with disability who do not receive these supports, as well as people without disability. For more information, see Data source – National Health Data Hub.
- Disability type cannot currently be identified using the NDDA disability flags used for this analysis.
- Observed patterns may partly reflect differences in the age, sex and disability-type composition of comparison groups.
- Admitted patients are people who undergo a formal admission process in a public hospital to receive treatment and/or care.
- A hospitalisation is mental health-related if: it had a mental health-related principal diagnosis which, for admitted patient care, is defined as a principal diagnosis that is either a diagnosis that falls within the section on Mental and behavioural disorders (Chapter 5) in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 12th revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) classification (codes F00–F99) or a number of other selected diagnoses (refer to the Classification Codes section for the full list of applicable diagnoses codes and exclusions), or it included any specialised psychiatric care.
- Data and populations for Western Australia and the Northern Territory are excluded due to data availability.
- States and territories are primarily responsible for the quality of the data they provide. The AIHW validates data on receipt and queries potential errors with jurisdictions; corrections and resubmissions may occur. Unless stated otherwise, the AIHW does not adjust data for possible errors or missing values.
- Rates are expressed as events per 100,000 population. Crude rates are calculated using the sum of resident populations at 30 June of the previous financial year, estimated from NHDH data.
- Time series comparisons should be interpreted with caution. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was beyond the scope of this analysis, and trends may also be affected by the rollout of the NDIS, which may initially have included people with more severe mental health conditions.
- Disability Support Pension recipients who become eligible for the Age Pension at age 67 may transfer to that pension. Those who transfer are not included in this report.
'Other' includes people who left against medical advice or were discharged at own risk, were discharged during hospital leave, or died.
Source:
AIHW NHDH 2018–23, analysis of NHDH
|
Data source overview
Hill AO, Bourne A, McNair R, Carman M and Lyons A (2020) Private Lives 3: The health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia, La Trobe University website, accessed 17 February 2026.
Marks P (2022) Mental health in emergency care, Elsevier Health Sciences, accessed 22 December 2025.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) (2024) Psychosocial disability, NDIS website, accessed 17 February 2026.
Wilson E, Campain R, Pollock S, Brophy L and Stratford A (2018) Understanding people with psychosocial disability as choice-makers in the context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing website, accessed 22 December 2025.