There were 23,031 admissions to Irish psychiatric units and hospitals in 2003, representing a rate of 760.4 per 100,000 population aged 16 years and over.a There were 6,656 first admissions, representing a rate of 219.8 per 100,000 population. Re-admissions accounted for 71% of all admissions. Males accounted for over half (51%) of all and first (55%) admissions. The 45–54 year age group had the highest rate of admission, at 961.2 per 100,000 population, while the 16–19 year age group had the lowest, at 271.5. Over half of all (54%) and first (53%) admissions were for single persons. The unskilled group had the highest rate of all (1,293.3) and first (298.6) admissions, while employers and managers had the lowest rate of all admissions, at 158.1 per 100,000 population. Three main diagnoses accounted for two-thirds of all admissions. Depressive disorders accounted for 33%, schizophrenia accounted for 18% and alcoholic disorders accounted for 16%. Eleven per cent of all admissions were non-voluntary.