Mental Health Information Development: National Information Priorities and Strategies Under the Second National Mental Health Plan 1998-2003 First Edition

This document presents the national priorities & strategies for developing mental health information in Australia during 1998-2003. It outlines a proposed work program agreed to by the Commonwealth, State, & Territory governments. Progress in information development 1993-1998 under the First National Mental Health Plan is summarized. Areas of significant gain are identified as well as those where only limited achievement has been made. This is followed by a review of the information requirements arising from the Second National Mental Health Plan. The following aspects of mental health information are included within this document: systems for the routine collection of patient-level & service utilization data by mental health service providers; the development & use of national collections built from routine service deivery data; & the development & use of other data collections to inform about the population’s need for mental health care, its use of services, the quality of those services, & the outcomes achieved.