Useful resources
The work of the Mental Health Commission is informed by a significant body of research, which may be useful to media. Below are links to key resources published by third parties.
Mental health
National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Summary statistics on key mental health issues including prevalence of mental disorders and the use of services.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Released 22/07/2022, reference period 2020-21.
Mental health services in Australia
Describes the activity and characteristics of Australia’s health care and social care services accessed by people with a mental illness.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Last updated 26/08/2022.
Alcohol and other drugs
AIHW National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019
On Australians’ use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Released 16/07/2020.
National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
Through wastewater analysis provides coordinated national research and intelligence on licit and illicit drugs that can be misused, with a specific focus on methamphetamine and other high-risk substances.
Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
Last updated 30/06/2022.
National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data (NOPSAD) collection
Aggregate of standardised jurisdictional data on the number of people accessing pharmacotherapy for the treatment of opioid dependence, the number of prescribers participating in the delivery of pharmacotherapy treatment, and quantitative information about the prescribing sector.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Last updated 20/03/2022.
Relating to deaths and deaths by suicide
Causes of Death, Australia
Statistics on the number of deaths, by sex, selected age groups, and cause of death classified to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Includes intentional self-harm deaths (suicide).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Released 19/10/2022, reference period 2021.
National Coronial Information System
This is a national repository containing data on deaths reported to a coroner in Australia and New Zealand. It contains demographic information on reportable deaths, contextual details on the circumstances of the fatality and searchable reports.
It can provide media outlets with:
- Non-identifying statistics on certain types of death. For example, opioid-related deaths or deaths due to intentional self-harm
- Non-identifying summaries of cases and any associated coronial recommendations
- National data for Australia and New Zealand, as well as data for specific jurisdictions.
Media organisations may request information via the NCIS data report service. The release of all data reports is subject to the approval of the relevant State/Chief Coroner(s).
JOURNALISTS TO NOTE
The Mental Health Commission does not collate statistics for deaths by suicide in Western Australia. Any queries relating to this should be directed to the Office of the State Coroner.
This page last updated on 19 October 2022.