Characteristics of people using mental health services and prescription medication, 2011

The Mental Health Services-Census Data Integration project brings together data from the 2011 Census with administrative information on people accessing subsidised mental health-related Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) services and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription medication.

The proportion of the population accessing PBS subsidised mental health-related prescription medications increased with age, with over one-third (34%) of all people aged 75 years and over accessing one or more of these drugs in 2011. By comparison, a higher proportion of people aged 15-64 years accessed MBS subsidised mental health-related services compared with people younger or older than this age group.

Published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the report is free to download.
4329.0 - Characteristics of people using mental health services and prescription medication, 2011