Using Administrative Data as a Source for National Mental Health Surveillance

In January, 2006 in partnership with five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) embarked on a feasibility study to examine the use of administrative data for mental illness surveillance.  Representatives from these five jurisdictions pilot-tested a case definition to determine the validity, reliability, quality, completeness and ease of extraction of mental illness information from administrative databases.  The first project was an omnibus definition of all mental illnesses.  The finding that similar results were obtained across the participating regions led to the examination of two specific disorder groups, mood and anxiety disorders.  Inter provincial differences between the coding of mood disorders and anxiety disorders were found, but there was good correspondence between the provinces when disorders were combined. This work continues at a National level.

Partners:

British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, the Public Health Agency of Canada

Funding:

Public Health Agency of Canada

Contact Info:

Please contact CARMHA for more information

Resources:

Jones, W.  Using Provincial/Territorial Administrative Data Bases for the Surveillance of Mood Disorders and Anxiety Disorders in Canada BC Report.  Prepared for CARMHA and PHAC July, 2007

Jones, W.  A Feasibility Study of the Use of Provincial Administrative Health Data Sets for the Surveillance of Mental Health Service Use in BC.  Prepared for CARMHA and the PHAC, April, 2006

Ongoing