Cost of mental health services
New research has put a price tag on the cost of mental health services per year in Australia.
According to the report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), national recurrent expenditure on mental health related services in Australia in 2007–08 was estimated at $5.3 billion.
Gary Hanson of the AIHW’s Mental Health Services Unit said the report entitled, Mental health services in Australia 2007-08, found that Medicare claims for GP items, mainly GP Mental Health Care items, constituted around 1.6 million of the claims made in 2008–09.
“General practitioners are often a first contact point for mental health concerns, with an estimated 13.2 million GP-patient encounters involving management of a mental health issue in 2008–09,” Mr Hanson said.
The report said older Australians over 65 were the group most likely to see their GP for a mental health issue which includes anxiety and depression but also inability to sleep, substance abuse and dementia.
The report also found women were more likely to see their doctor than men.
