Patients languishing in emergency departments: A descriptive analysis of mental health-related emergency department presentations in Australia between 2016-17 and 2020-21

OBJECTIVE: In the context of concerns regarding hospital access block, this paper provides a descriptive longitudinal analysis of mental health–related ED episodes in Australian public hospitals between 2016-17 and 2020-21. METHOD: We descriptively analysed Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data for mental health–related ED presentations, outcomes and 5-year trends for Australian public hospitals. RESULTS: There were more than 300,000 Australian mental health–related ED presentations in 2020-21. Presentations increased by an average annual rate of 2.8% between 2016-17 and 2020-21, commonly involving first responder (police, paramedic) attendance. From 2016-17 to 2020-21, the average annual rate of mental health–related ED presentations receiving a triage category of resuscitation increased by 13.7%, emergency by 9.4% and urgent by 4.7%. 90% of MH-related ED presentations were completed within 14 h, which was longer than the 90(th) percentile for all ED presentations (up to 8 h). CONCLUSIONS: Current mental health policies have not stemmed the rising tide of ED presentations. Mental health–related ED presentations are increasing in number and severity, likely due to health systemic and societal factors. Psychiatry patients stay longer in EDs than other patients. Healthcare reforms should be targeted to provide the best outcome based on principles of equity of access.