ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES-CENSUS-MORTALITY INTEGRATED DATASET
The Mental Health Services-Census-Mortality Integrated Dataset builds upon the 2011 Mental Health Services-Census Data Integration project which was commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission and undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2014-2016 to inform the National Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services.
The current project enhances the Mental Health Services-Census Integrated Dataset through the addition of mortality information sourced from the ABS Mortality, Enhanced Characteristics, Australia, 2011-12 dataset. Funding for this work was provided by the National Mental Health Commission.
Integrating a selected subset of data items from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and 2011 Census of Population and Housing has greatly increased the power of the data to support analysis of the circumstances and characteristics of people experiencing mental ill-health as they interact with the health care system. With the addition of mortality information the dataset can provide insights into characteristics and mortality outcomes of people accessing mental health-related treatments, contributing to the pool of data available in Australia to assist in the development and evaluation of mental health programs and support services now and into the future.
Deaths information in the dataset relate to deaths registered in Australia during the 13-month period following the 2011 Census; that is, between 10 August 2011 and 27 September 2012 inclusive. For brevity, this period is referred to as ‘2011-12’ in commentary in this publication.
Census information included in the dataset provides insight into a range of socio-demographic characteristics including age, sex, remoteness, socio-economic disadvantage, labour force status and educational attainment.
The confidentiality of these data are protected by the Census and Statistics Act (1905) and the Privacy Act (1988). MBS and PBS information provided by the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to the ABS is treated in the strictest confidence as is required by the National Health Act (1953) and the Health Insurance Act (1973). Information pertaining to death registrations draws extensively on information provided by state and territory Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and the Victorian Department of Justice, who manage the National Coronial Information System (NCIS). Confidentiality of these data are protected by the Census and Statistics Act (1905) and the Privacy Act (1988).
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