Regional estimates of child and adolescent mental disorders

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Data description: The Young Minds Matter survey, which was conducted in 2013-24, provided information on prevalence and severity of mental disorders in children and adolescents aged 4-17 years. To update these estimates, modelling was used combine data from Young Minds Matter with information from the 2021 Australian Census of Population and Housing to produce synthetic estimates of prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents across Australia. Regional profiles have been provided for each SA4 region, Primary Health Network (PHN) region, and Commonwealth Electoral District (CED) in Australia. In addition, a dataset of estimates at the SA3 level is provided. Estimates of prevalence and severity of mental disorders in small geographic areas can be useful for service planning and funding allocation by providing estimates of demand however, Young Minds Matter was not designed to deliver reliable survey estimates at jurisdictional and smaller geographic areas. Analysis of Young Minds Matter survey data identified several socio-demographic characteristics that were associated with prevalence of mental disorders. These socio-demographic characteristics are known to vary across geographic areas in Australia, and data is available from the 2011 Census that describes these variations. Synthetic estimates of prevalence and severity of mental disorders have been produced by combining statistical modelling of factors associated with mental disorder status from the Young Minds Matter data, with information on the geographic distribution of those factors from the 2011 Census. Synthetic estimates have several limitations. They rely on the underlying assumption that the spatial variation in mental disorders can be described by the socio-economic factors that are available in the survey and the census. Synthetic estimates are used when there is no other source of data for small geographic areas, but because there is no other data source available, it is not possible to test if model assumptions that the synthetic estimates are based on are accurate. Data collection time details: Original survey data were collected in 2013-14. Updated estimates of prevalence and demand have been created for 2021 using data from the 2021 Australian Census of Population and Housing. Number of files/types: There is one excel spreadsheet for each SA4 region in Australia (88 regions), one for each Primary Health Network region (31 regions), and one for each Commonwealth Electoral Division (151 regions). In addition there is one data set providing estimates at the SA3 level. Special software required to open files: Either Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel Viewer or a viewer for excel spreadsheets is required. Geographic information (if relevant): SA4 regions, PHN regions and Commonwealth Electoral Divisions in Australia Keywords: mental disorders, children and adolescents, externalising disorders, internalising disorders, regional estimates, synthetic estimation.