A Point Prevalence Study of Outpatients and Inpatients in the Mental Health Services, General Hospital Psychiatric Units, and under Private Psychiatrists in Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

A one day point prevalence study of all inpatients and a one week point prevalence study of all outpatients seen by psychiatrists in Perth, Western Australia, was conducted. On the census day in July 1971, 61 per cent of all psychiatric inpatients in Perth were long-stay patients. Of the short-stay patients 75 per cent were in Mental Health Services hospitals, 17 per cent were in general hospital psychiatric units and 8 per cent were under private psychiatrists. The bed occupancy rate was 129.7 per 100,000 population for the whole State—83.2 longstay and 46.5 short-stay. These rates were low compared with published figures in other countries. The proportions of total outpatients seen during the census week by the Mental Health Services, general hospital units and private psychiatrists were 53.5 per cent, 16.0 per cent and 30.5 per cent respectively. There was a differential use of psychiatric services between immigrants and Australian-born outpatients.