Mental health burden on hospitals at crisis levels
THE extent of mental illness and its cost to the health system is underestimated, a new study shows. INTERACTIVE: Where the strain is showing.
NSW
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THE extent of mental illness and its cost to the health system has been seriously underestimated, new data reveals.
National spending on mental health-related services grew to $9 billion in 2015-16, according to information released last Friday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The AIHW’s Mental Health Services In Australia report shows the national spend on mental health-related services in 2015-16 was $373 a person, up from $354 in 2011-12.
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There were 244,934 overnight hospitalisations for mental health conditions in both public and private hospitals in 2015-16.
The research found people living with mental illness in rural settings die, on average, 20 years earlier than the average life expectancy in Australia.
The research, led by Associate Professor Russell Roberts from Charles Sturt University, found people living with mental illness in Australia are at double the risk of early death and three times the risk if they live in rural communities.
“These are normal preventable physical illnesses, and these deaths are preceded by hospitalisation, so the costs are much more than the mental health aspects,” Prof Roberts said. “People with mental illness don’t seem to get the same quality of physical health care.”
For every person living with mental illness who dies by suicide, 10 die prematurely due to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and cancer.
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Drug and alcohol use, and schizophrenia and delusional disorders were the two most common mental health conditions requiring overnight hospitalisation.
Hospitalisations for mental health are also increasing year on year.
The national average of mental health overnight hospitalisations is 102 per 10,000 people, up from 94 per 10,000 people in 2014—15 and 91 per 10,000 people in 2013—14.
In NSW alone, Northern NSW had the highest number of mental health hospitalisations — 134 admissions per 10,000, or 83,143 bed days.
North Sydney had the lowest with 85 admission per 10,000.