WORKFORCE DEPLOYMENT - RECONCILING DEMANDS AND RESOURCES

Objective: The purpose of the study was to review the information in a Consultancy prepared for the National Mental Health Policy which sugg ested that half of the people with serious mental illnesses were untre ated, while persons with ''mental problems'' were being overserviced b y the specialist mental health services, The fate of the large group o f persons with mental disorders of mid-range severity was not addresse d. Method: Epidemiological data was reconciled with the service patter ns of the clinical workforce and the extent of the unmet need estimate d. Results: It was estimated that 25-30% of the Australian population meet criteria for a mental disorder in any year, yet less than one thi rd will receive treatment, Of those that are treated, three quarters w ill receive their treatment from general practitioners and the remaini ng quarter will be treated by either the public mental health services , the addiction services, or private psychiatrists, The problem is tha t less than one half of those with serious mental disorders and only t wo thirds of those with chronic and disabling disorders appear to be b eing treated by anyone, Even if there were no slippage of services awa y from these serious and chronic groups of patients, there would still be a workforce shortfall, especially in rural and remote areas, Concl usions: Strategies to remedy this shortfall that involve psychiatrists , clinical psychologists and general practitioners are noted, and the need for a National Mental Health Survey to provide accurate data is s tressed,