Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Australia: A descriptive analysis between 2015-16 and 2019-20.

OBJECTIVE

To provide analysis and commentary on Australian state/territory child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) expenditure, inpatient and ambulatory structure and key performance indicators.

METHOD: Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics were descriptively analysed.

RESULTS

Between 2015-16 and 2019-20, overall CAMHS expenditure increased by an average annual rate of 3.6%. Per capita expenditure increased at a higher rate than for other subspeciality services. CAMHS admissions had a higher cost per patient day, shorter length of stay, higher readmission rate and lower rates of significant improvement. Adolescents aged 12-17 had high community CAMHS utilisation, based on proportion of population coverage and number of service contacts. CAMHS outpatient outcomes were similar to other age-groups. There were high rates of 'Mental disorder not otherwise specified', depression and adjustment/stress-related disorders as principal diagnoses in community CAMHS episodes.

CONCLUSIONS

CAMHS inpatient admissions had lower rates of significant improvement and higher 14-day readmission rates than other ages. Australia's young population had a high outpatient CAMHS contact rate. Evidence-based modelling of CAMHS providers and outcomes may inform future service improvement.