This annual report - Taranaki District Health Board

Numbers Accessing Services by Diagnosis and AgeSchizophrenia, Other Psychotic Disorders and Personality Disorders: In New Zealandduring 2009–2011, the number of young people accessing mental health services withpsychotic disorders (other than schizophrenia) increased rapidly after 13 years of age, withnumbers continuing to increase up until 20 years. While the number diagnosed withschizophrenia and personality disorders followed a similar pattern, the age distribution wasshifted to the right by two to three years (i.e. the average age of diagnosis for thesedisorders was two to three years later than for other psychotic disorders (Figure 132)).Depression, Bipolar Disorders and Other Mood Disorders: In New Zealand during 2009–2011, the number of young people accessing mental health services with a diagnosis ofdepression increased gradually between eight and thirteen years, with numbers then risingvery rapidly thereafter, to reach a peak at 16–17 years of age. Rates then decreased againduring the late teens. While a similar pattern was seen for other mood disorders, numberswere lower than for those with depression at every age from eight years onwards. Incontrast, the number accessing mental health services with a diagnosis of bipolar disorderincreased gradually from twelve years of age onwards (Figure 133).Numbers Accessing Services by Diagnosis, Ethnicity and GenderSchizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders: In New Zealand during 2009–2011, thenumber of young people accessing mental health services with schizophrenia or otherpsychotic disorders was significantly higher for males and for Māori > Pacific >European/Other young people. Similar patterns were seen for mental health servicecontacts and inpatient bed nights (Table 103).Depression and Other Mood Disorders: In New Zealand during 2009–2011, the number ofyoung people accessing mental health services with depression or other mood disorderswas significantly higher for females and for European/Other > Māori > Pacific youngpeople. While similar patterns were seen for mental health service contacts, inpatient bednights for those with depression were significantly higher for Māori > European/Other >Pacific young people (Table 104, Table 105).Bipolar Disorder: In New Zealand during 2009–2011, the number of young peopleaccessing mental health services with bipolar disorder was significantly higher for femalesand for Māori > European/Other > Pacific young people. While similar ethnic differenceswere seen for mental health service contacts and inpatient bed nights, the number ofinpatient bed nights for males with bipolar disorder was significantly higher than forfemales (Table 104).Personality Disorders: In New Zealand during 2009–2011, the number of young peopleaccessing mental health services with a personality disorder was significantly higher forfemales and for European/Other and Māori > Pacific young people. While similar genderand ethnic differences were seen for the number of mental health service contacts, thenumber of inpatient bed nights was significantly higher for Māori > European/Other >Pacific young people (Table 105).Midland Region DistributionYoung People Accessing Mental Health Services by DiagnosisAmongst the DHBs in the Midland Region during 2009–2011, depression and other mooddisorders and schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders were the most frequentdiagnoses assigned to young people accessing mental health services (Table 106, Table107). While rates for a number of conditions differed significantly from the New Zealandrate, it must be remembered these figures reflect young people’s access to mental healthservices rather than the underlying health need in the community, with the figurespresented thus being likely to underestimate the prevalence of these conditions in theregion.Access to Mental Health Services in Young People - 400