Mental Health Information System (MHIS)

The Mental Health Information System (MHIS) has been operating since 1st July 1966 and is the oldest continuous mental health information system in Australia. Information is collected about people who utilise mental health services in Western Australia (WA). This information supports the planning and provision of mental health services and ongoing mental health research in WA. Processing, storage and provision of data are subject to strict security protocols.

The MHIS is currently collecting information from the following two sources:

1) Inpatient data from the following hospital types:

Authorised Psychiatric Hospitals
Designated Psychiatric Inpatient Units
Acute General Hospitals

2) Ambulatory Data (non inpatients) from the following public program types:

Psychiatric Clinics
Community health centres
Day centres
Outreach programs
Rehabilitation programs

Each year approximately 41,000 people contact Mental Health services. There are:

Approximately 26,000 hospital inpatient admissions per year
480,000 public occasions of service in a non-admitted setting
25% first time patients

The MHIS currently completes over 200 data requests annually for clients including: DOH divisions, hospitals and health services, the Australian government, researchers, non-government organisations, students and the general public.

(*All data releases are guided by strict confidentiality rules)

Useful Links

State Health

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
Office of Mental Health

Commonwealth

Mental Health and Wellbeing - Department of Health and Ageing
Mental Health - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare