This annual report - Taranaki District Health Board

Mental Health Issues Associated with Substance UseNew Zealand DistributionAccess to Services by AgeIn New Zealand during 2009–2011, the number of young people accessing mental healthservices for mental health issues associated with substance use, or where substance usewas recorded as a co-diagnosis, increased rapidly after 12 years of age. Alcohol andcannabis were the substances most frequently documented in those accessing services,although other substance use was also relatively common (Figure 134).Figure 134. Children and Young People Accessing Mental Health Services with MentalHealth Issues Associated with Substance Use by Age, New Zealand 2009–20111000Number with Diagnosis per 100,000900800700600500400300200Alcohol-Related DisordersCannabis-Related DisordersOther Substance-Related Disorders10000 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20Average Age (Years)Source: Numerator: PRIMHD (individuals attending Mental Health Services who had ever been assigned thesediagnoses); Denominator: Statistics NZ Projected Population (2010 = mid-point of 2009–2011)Mental Health Issues with Substance Use as a Co-DiagnosisIn New Zealand during 2009–2011, substance use was a very frequent co-diagnosis forchildren and young people accessing mental health services. Personality disorders,followed by schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders were the most frequent diagnosesto have an alcohol-related disorder listed as a co-diagnosis, while schizophrenia, otherpsychotic disorders, and then personality disorders, were the most frequent diagnoses tohave cannabis use, or other substance use listed as a co-diagnosis. Amongst those withschizophrenia 19.8% had an alcohol-related disorder listed as a co-diagnosis, while 26.6%had a cannabis-related disorder, and 21.3% had other substance use listed as a codiagnosis(Table 108).Note: As a result of the considerable overlap between mental health diagnoses andsubstance use, it is likely that a proportion of the mental health contacts and inpatient bednights presented in the tables which follow actually occurred in the context of care for otherdiagnoses, rather than primarily for the management of a substance-related disorder.Access to Mental Health Services in Young People - 407