Service use

Service use for emotional and behavioural problems

A wide range of services are available to assist young people with emotional and behavioural problems. Parents and carers reported on the health, school, telephone counselling and online services used by young people, as well as any medication taken.

• • One in six (17.0%) children and adolescents aged 4-17 years had used services for emotional or behavioural problems in the previous 12 months.
    - One in seven (14.8%) used health services.
    - One in nine (11.5%) used school services.
    - Just over half (53.5%) of 4-17 year-olds using services used both health and school services.

Services for young people with disorders

• • Just over half (56.0%) of 4-17 year-olds with mental disorders had used services for emotional and behavioural problems in the previous 12 months.
  • Service use was higher among children and adolescents with more severe disorders.
    - Two fifths (41.2%) of those with mild disorders, 72.5% of those with moderate disorders and 87.6% of those with severe disorders had used services.

Service use in the past 12 months by 4-17 year-olds with mental disorders by severity of the disorder

• • One in eight (12.8%) children and adolescents with mental disorders had taken a medication for emotional or behavioural problems in the previous two weeks.
  • The majority (94.6%) of young people with mental disorders using services in the previous 12 months had used health services.
    - Just over one third (35.0%) of 4-17 year‑olds had seen a general practitioner.
    - Almost a quarter (23.9%) had seen a psychologist.
    - One fifth (21.0%) had seen a paediatrician.
    - One fifth (20.7%) had seen a counsellor or a family therapist.

• • One in sixteen (6.2%) 4-17 year-olds with mental disorders were admitted to hospital, or attended an emergency or outpatient department in the previous 12 months.
  • Specialist child and adolescent mental health services were used by 3.3% of 4-17 year-olds with mental disorders in the previous 12 months.
  • Parents and carers reported that 7.3% of 12-17 year-olds with mental disorders visited a headspace centre in the previous 12 months.
  • Schools provided services to 40.2% of the children and adolescents with mental disorders who attended them:
    - 28.4% received individual counselling;
    - 9.2% attended a group counselling or support program;
    - 13.1% used a special class or school;
    - 5.6% had seen a school nurse; and
    - 17.1% received other school services.