This is the first report to provide detailed statistics on the characteristics and hospital care of admitted patients with a mental disorder diagnosis and/or who were treated in specialised psychiatric services during 1997-98. Statistics on psychiatric hospitals and specialised services in acute hospitals are also provided. The report provides additional information from a range of sources that places hospital data in a broader context of service delivery across different settings. It includes data on private psychiatric services, general practice activity related to mental health care, and population data on the use of health services for mental disorders.