Question seeks data on co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders in WA and treatment rates. Answer acknowledges data limitations and ongoing efforts to improve data collection.

AnsweredQoN 1020Legislative Council
Asked
11 December 2013
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

COEXISTING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
1020. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Mental Health:
(1) How many people in WA have coexisting mental illness and
substance use disorders?
(2) How many of these people are estimated to receive
treatment for both problems?

AnswerView source ↗

(1) The
estimated prevalence rates of people with coexisting mental illness and
substance abuse disorders vary depending on the particular co-occurring
disorders that are of interest, the methodology used and the service setting in
which the prevalence study is conducted. It is estimated that between 35 per
cent and 70 per cent of people who use alcohol and other drugs also have a
co-occurring mental illness.
(2) People
have access to a wide range of mental health and drug and alcohol services
provided by the public sector, the private sector, including GPs, and the
non-government sector. Data on the prevalence of clients with co-occurring
alcohol and other drugs and mental health problems accessing Western Australian
treatment services is currently not reliably collected.
The Department of Health's
information systems contain data on clients with co-occurring alcohol and other
drugs and mental health problems accessing hospitals and public community mental
health services. The Drug and Alcohol Office is looking into possible
enhancements to systems such as the Drug and Alcohol Office's services
information management system database used by drug and alcohol treatment
agencies to allow for improved information in this area.
I am advised that more time is required to collate the
Department of Health's data. Therefore, I ask the honourable member to
place the question on notice.

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