A profile of young Albertans using mental health services
Date
2019-05-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PolicyWise for Children & Families
Abstract
Mental health conditions are common. They pose a significant burden to individuals and economic burden to Canada. This report profiled Albertan youth (0 to 25 years old) who received mental health services from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Analyses examined these individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and public service use patterns. This report found that (1) 5% of individuals received a mental health service in a given year (61,249 to 67,853 a year from 2005/06 to 2010/11), (2) mental health service users had lower educational achievement and were more likely to be students with special needs than those not using services, (3) behavioural conditions were the most common disorder among those with mental health service use, followed by anxiety and depression, and (4) those diagnosed with schizophrenia/psychosis were more likely to be high-cost health users and have other life challenges, such as criminal involvement, than others with a mental health condition. These findings provide policy-relevant evidence that public authorities may consider as they seek to better support young Albertans with mental health conditions.
Description
This report profiled Albertan youth (0 to 25 years old) who received mental health services using administrative data from 2005/06 to 2010/11.
Keywords
mental health, youth, big data, longitudinal, social services, health services, administrative data, data linkage
Citation
Child and Youth Data Laboratory. (2017). A profile of young Albertans using mental health services. Edmonton, AB: PolicyWise for Children & Families.